diff --git a/kernel/audit_tree.c b/kernel/audit_tree.c
index 642a89c4f3d6..a291aa23fb3f 100644
--- a/kernel/audit_tree.c
+++ b/kernel/audit_tree.c
@@ -617,9 +617,9 @@ void audit_trim_trees(void)
 		}
 		spin_unlock(&hash_lock);
 		trim_marked(tree);
-		put_tree(tree);
 		drop_collected_mounts(root_mnt);
 skip_it:
+		put_tree(tree);
 		mutex_lock(&audit_filter_mutex);
 	}
 	list_del(&cursor);