diff --git a/drivers/char/virtio_console.c b/drivers/char/virtio_console.c
index ffa7e46faff9ca..4e684faee10b0b 100644
--- a/drivers/char/virtio_console.c
+++ b/drivers/char/virtio_console.c
@@ -1518,14 +1518,6 @@ static void remove_port(struct kref *kref)
 
 	port = container_of(kref, struct port, kref);
 
-	sysfs_remove_group(&port->dev->kobj, &port_attribute_group);
-	device_destroy(pdrvdata.class, port->dev->devt);
-	cdev_del(port->cdev);
-
-	kfree(port->name);
-
-	debugfs_remove(port->debugfs_file);
-
 	kfree(port);
 }
 
@@ -1583,6 +1575,14 @@ static void unplug_port(struct port *port)
 	 */
 	port->portdev = NULL;
 
+	sysfs_remove_group(&port->dev->kobj, &port_attribute_group);
+	device_destroy(pdrvdata.class, port->dev->devt);
+	cdev_del(port->cdev);
+
+	kfree(port->name);
+
+	debugfs_remove(port->debugfs_file);
+
 	/*
 	 * Locks around here are not necessary - a port can't be
 	 * opened after we removed the port struct from ports_list