diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_main.c
index 6218bdb7f941..86b9caece104 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_main.c
@@ -12091,7 +12091,6 @@ static void ixgbe_remove(struct pci_dev *pdev)
 
 	devl_port_unregister(&adapter->devlink_port);
 	devl_unlock(adapter->devlink);
-	devlink_free(adapter->devlink);
 
 	ixgbe_stop_ipsec_offload(adapter);
 	ixgbe_clear_interrupt_scheme(adapter);
@@ -12127,6 +12126,8 @@ static void ixgbe_remove(struct pci_dev *pdev)
 
 	if (disable_dev)
 		pci_disable_device(pdev);
+
+	devlink_free(adapter->devlink);
 }
 
 /**