diff --git a/sound/usb/card.c b/sound/usb/card.c
index 8906199..549b9b06 100644
--- a/sound/usb/card.c
+++ b/sound/usb/card.c
@@ -644,9 +644,12 @@
 
  __error:
 	if (chip) {
+		/* chip->active is inside the chip->card object,
+		 * decrement before memory is possibly returned.
+		 */
+		atomic_dec(&chip->active);
 		if (!chip->num_interfaces)
 			snd_card_free(chip->card);
-		atomic_dec(&chip->active);
 	}
 	mutex_unlock(&register_mutex);
 	return err;