diff --git a/fs/btrfs/ctree.c b/fs/btrfs/ctree.c
index 561658aca018..6e053caa6e10 100644
--- a/fs/btrfs/ctree.c
+++ b/fs/btrfs/ctree.c
@@ -4566,9 +4566,9 @@ int btrfs_del_items(struct btrfs_trans_handle *trans, struct btrfs_root *root,
 			if (btrfs_header_nritems(leaf) == 0) {
 				path->slots[1] = slot;
 				ret = btrfs_del_leaf(trans, root, path, leaf);
+				free_extent_buffer(leaf);
 				if (ret < 0)
 					return ret;
-				free_extent_buffer(leaf);
 				ret = 0;
 			} else {
 				/* if we're still in the path, make sure