diff --git a/block/bfq-cgroup.c b/block/bfq-cgroup.c
index 5d202b775beb..c202e2527d05 100644
--- a/block/bfq-cgroup.c
+++ b/block/bfq-cgroup.c
@@ -739,8 +739,8 @@ static void bfq_sync_bfqq_move(struct bfq_data *bfqd,
 		 * old cgroup.
 		 */
 		bfq_put_cooperator(sync_bfqq);
-		bfq_release_process_ref(bfqd, sync_bfqq);
 		bic_set_bfqq(bic, NULL, true, act_idx);
+		bfq_release_process_ref(bfqd, sync_bfqq);
 	}
 }