diff --git a/sys/dev/iwi/if_iwi.c b/sys/dev/iwi/if_iwi.c
index f1116f61e0f4..8e049e36ec0f 100644
--- a/sys/dev/iwi/if_iwi.c
+++ b/sys/dev/iwi/if_iwi.c
@@ -1979,9 +1979,9 @@ iwi_start(struct iwi_softc *sc)
 		}
 		ni = (struct ieee80211_node *) m->m_pkthdr.rcvif;
 		if (iwi_tx_start(sc, m, ni, ac) != 0) {
-			ieee80211_free_node(ni);
 			if_inc_counter(ni->ni_vap->iv_ifp,
 			    IFCOUNTER_OERRORS, 1);
+			ieee80211_free_node(ni);
 			break;
 		}
 		sc->sc_tx_timer = 5;
diff --git a/sys/dev/ral/rt2661.c b/sys/dev/ral/rt2661.c
index d4872cd50446..3e4d7fdde42a 100644
--- a/sys/dev/ral/rt2661.c
+++ b/sys/dev/ral/rt2661.c
@@ -1616,9 +1616,9 @@ rt2661_start(struct rt2661_softc *sc)
 		}
 		ni = (struct ieee80211_node *) m->m_pkthdr.rcvif;
 		if (rt2661_tx_data(sc, m, ni, ac) != 0) {
-			ieee80211_free_node(ni);
 			if_inc_counter(ni->ni_vap->iv_ifp,
 			    IFCOUNTER_OERRORS, 1);
+			ieee80211_free_node(ni);
 			break;
 		}
 		sc->sc_tx_timer = 5;
diff --git a/sys/dev/usb/wlan/if_zyd.c b/sys/dev/usb/wlan/if_zyd.c
index b04cc3cfc4d9..f4ae7e7c6b74 100644
--- a/sys/dev/usb/wlan/if_zyd.c
+++ b/sys/dev/usb/wlan/if_zyd.c
@@ -2582,10 +2582,10 @@ zyd_start(struct zyd_softc *sc)
 	while (sc->tx_nfree > 0 && (m = mbufq_dequeue(&sc->sc_snd)) != NULL) {
 		ni = (struct ieee80211_node *)m->m_pkthdr.rcvif;
 		if (zyd_tx_start(sc, m, ni) != 0) {
-			ieee80211_free_node(ni);
 			m_freem(m);
 			if_inc_counter(ni->ni_vap->iv_ifp,
 			    IFCOUNTER_OERRORS, 1);
+			ieee80211_free_node(ni);
 			break;
 		}
 	}