diff --git a/src/dm/DispatchManagerActions.cc b/src/dm/DispatchManagerActions.cc
index a871d58313..901f8db676 100644
--- a/src/dm/DispatchManagerActions.cc
+++ b/src/dm/DispatchManagerActions.cc
@@ -1528,8 +1528,6 @@ int DispatchManager::attach_nic(
 
     if ( vm == 0 )
     {
-        delete nic;
-
         if ( rc == 0 )
         {
             VirtualMachine::release_network_leases(nic, vid);
@@ -1541,6 +1539,8 @@ int DispatchManager::attach_nic(
             }
         }
 
+        delete nic;
+
         oss << "Could not attach a new NIC to VM " << vid
             << ", VM does not exist after setting its state to HOTPLUG." ;
         error_str = oss.str();