diff --git a/drivers/net/xen-netback/xenbus.c b/drivers/net/xen-netback/xenbus.c
index 44e353dd2ba1..43bd881ab3dd 100644
--- a/drivers/net/xen-netback/xenbus.c
+++ b/drivers/net/xen-netback/xenbus.c
@@ -202,10 +202,10 @@ static int netback_remove(struct xenbus_device *dev)
 	set_backend_state(be, XenbusStateClosed);
 
 	unregister_hotplug_status_watch(be);
+	xenbus_rm(XBT_NIL, dev->nodename, "hotplug-status");
 	if (be->vif) {
 		kobject_uevent(&dev->dev.kobj, KOBJ_OFFLINE);
 		xen_unregister_watchers(be->vif);
-		xenbus_rm(XBT_NIL, dev->nodename, "hotplug-status");
 		xenvif_free(be->vif);
 		be->vif = NULL;
 	}
@@ -435,7 +435,6 @@ static void backend_disconnect(struct backend_info *be)
 		unsigned int queue_index;
 
 		xen_unregister_watchers(vif);
-		xenbus_rm(XBT_NIL, be->dev->nodename, "hotplug-status");
 #ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_FS
 		xenvif_debugfs_delif(vif);
 #endif /* CONFIG_DEBUG_FS */