diff --git a/block.c b/block.c
index 01b66d802a..d5ce8d39e4 100644
--- a/block.c
+++ b/block.c
@@ -1606,11 +1606,11 @@ void bdrv_delete(BlockDriverState *bs)
     assert(!bs->job);
     assert(!bs->in_use);
 
+    bdrv_close(bs);
+
     /* remove from list, if necessary */
     bdrv_make_anon(bs);
 
-    bdrv_close(bs);
-
     g_free(bs);
 }