diff --git a/sys/netinet/ip_carp.c b/sys/netinet/ip_carp.c
index 436385d373d1..a170e34d32d8 100644
--- a/sys/netinet/ip_carp.c
+++ b/sys/netinet/ip_carp.c
@@ -1605,12 +1605,12 @@ carp_free_if(struct carp_if *cif)
 
 	IF_ADDR_WLOCK(ifp);
 	ifp->if_carp = NULL;
-	if_rele(ifp);
 	IF_ADDR_WUNLOCK(ifp);
 
 	CIF_LOCK_DESTROY(cif);
 
 	ifpromisc(ifp, 0);
+	if_rele(ifp);
 
 	free(cif, M_CARP);
 }