diff --git a/drivers/staging/rtl8192u/ieee80211/ieee80211_softmac.c b/drivers/staging/rtl8192u/ieee80211/ieee80211_softmac.c
index 690b664df8fa..56a447651644 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/rtl8192u/ieee80211/ieee80211_softmac.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/rtl8192u/ieee80211/ieee80211_softmac.c
@@ -528,9 +528,9 @@ static void ieee80211_beacons_stop(struct ieee80211_device *ieee)
 	spin_lock_irqsave(&ieee->beacon_lock, flags);
 
 	ieee->beacon_txing = 0;
-	del_timer_sync(&ieee->beacon_timer);
 
 	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ieee->beacon_lock, flags);
+	del_timer_sync(&ieee->beacon_timer);
 }
 
 void ieee80211_stop_send_beacons(struct ieee80211_device *ieee)