diff --git a/fs/dlm/lowcomms.c b/fs/dlm/lowcomms.c
index 963016c8f3d1..609998de533e 100644
--- a/fs/dlm/lowcomms.c
+++ b/fs/dlm/lowcomms.c
@@ -1656,16 +1656,12 @@ void dlm_lowcomms_stop(void)
 	mutex_lock(&connections_lock);
 	dlm_allow_conn = 0;
 	foreach_conn(stop_conn);
+	clean_writequeues();
+	foreach_conn(free_conn);
 	mutex_unlock(&connections_lock);
 
 	work_stop();
 
-	mutex_lock(&connections_lock);
-	clean_writequeues();
-
-	foreach_conn(free_conn);
-
-	mutex_unlock(&connections_lock);
 	kmem_cache_destroy(con_cache);
 }