diff --git a/kernel/cgroup.c b/kernel/cgroup.c
index d01587793865..d27904c193da 100644
--- a/kernel/cgroup.c
+++ b/kernel/cgroup.c
@@ -4657,14 +4657,15 @@ static void css_free_work_fn(struct work_struct *work)
 
 	if (ss) {
 		/* css free path */
+		struct cgroup_subsys_state *parent = css->parent;
 		int id = css->id;
 
-		if (css->parent)
-			css_put(css->parent);
-
 		ss->css_free(css);
 		cgroup_idr_remove(&ss->css_idr, id);
 		cgroup_put(cgrp);
+
+		if (parent)
+			css_put(parent);
 	} else {
 		/* cgroup free path */
 		atomic_dec(&cgrp->root->nr_cgrps);