diff --git a/net/smc/smc_core.c b/net/smc/smc_core.c
index 4eb9ef9c2800..18c4eefc88e6 100644
--- a/net/smc/smc_core.c
+++ b/net/smc/smc_core.c
@@ -662,8 +662,8 @@ void smc_conn_free(struct smc_connection *conn)
 			cancel_work_sync(&conn->abort_work);
 	}
 	if (!list_empty(&lgr->list)) {
-		smc_lgr_unregister_conn(conn);
 		smc_buf_unuse(conn, lgr); /* allow buffer reuse */
+		smc_lgr_unregister_conn(conn);
 	}
 
 	if (!lgr->conns_num)