diff --git a/sys/ufs/ffs/ffs_snapshot.c b/sys/ufs/ffs/ffs_snapshot.c
index bbd92001bfeb..0e2191feb141 100644
--- a/sys/ufs/ffs/ffs_snapshot.c
+++ b/sys/ufs/ffs/ffs_snapshot.c
@@ -652,9 +652,9 @@ ffs_snapshot(mp, snapfile)
 	space = devvp->v_rdev->si_snapblklist;
 	devvp->v_rdev->si_snapblklist = snapblklist;
 	devvp->v_rdev->si_snaplistsize = snaplistsize;
+	VI_UNLOCK(devvp);
 	if (space != NULL)
 		FREE(space, M_UFSMNT);
-	VI_UNLOCK(devvp);
 done:
 	free(copy_fs->fs_csp, M_UFSMNT);
 	bawrite(sbp);