diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/panthor/panthor_gem.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/panthor/panthor_gem.c
index 14ed09d700f2..43471babff86 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/panthor/panthor_gem.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/panthor/panthor_gem.c
@@ -144,6 +144,9 @@ panthor_kernel_bo_create(struct panthor_device *ptdev, struct panthor_vm *vm,
 	bo = to_panthor_bo(&obj->base);
 	kbo->obj = &obj->base;
 	bo->flags = bo_flags;
+	bo->exclusive_vm_root_gem = panthor_vm_root_gem(vm);
+	drm_gem_object_get(bo->exclusive_vm_root_gem);
+	bo->base.base.resv = bo->exclusive_vm_root_gem->resv;
 
 	if (vm == panthor_fw_vm(ptdev))
 		debug_flags |= PANTHOR_DEBUGFS_GEM_USAGE_FLAG_FW_MAPPED;
@@ -167,9 +170,6 @@ panthor_kernel_bo_create(struct panthor_device *ptdev, struct panthor_vm *vm,
 		goto err_free_va;
 
 	kbo->vm = panthor_vm_get(vm);
-	bo->exclusive_vm_root_gem = panthor_vm_root_gem(vm);
-	drm_gem_object_get(bo->exclusive_vm_root_gem);
-	bo->base.base.resv = bo->exclusive_vm_root_gem->resv;
 	return kbo;
 
 err_free_va: