diff --git a/bcmdhd/wifi_hal/wifi_hal.cpp b/bcmdhd/wifi_hal/wifi_hal.cpp
index 28f5565..fdb7d7b 100644
--- a/bcmdhd/wifi_hal/wifi_hal.cpp
+++ b/bcmdhd/wifi_hal/wifi_hal.cpp
@@ -335,12 +335,12 @@
             pthread_mutex_unlock(&info->cb_lock);
             cmd->cancel();
             pthread_mutex_lock(&info->cb_lock);
-            /* release reference added when command is saved */
-            cmd->releaseRef();
             if (num_cmd == info->num_cmd) {
                 ALOGI("Cancelling command %p:%s did not work", cmd, (cmd ? cmd->getType(): ""));
                 bad_commands++;
             }
+            /* release reference added when command is saved */
+            cmd->releaseRef();
         }
     }