diff --git a/net/core/pktgen.c b/net/core/pktgen.c
index 8e185b318288..ee64f3012321 100644
--- a/net/core/pktgen.c
+++ b/net/core/pktgen.c
@@ -3972,6 +3972,7 @@ static void _rem_dev_from_if_list(struct pktgen_thread *t,
 	struct pktgen_dev *p;
 
 	if_lock(t);
+	proc_remove(pkt_dev->entry);
 	list_for_each_safe(q, n, &t->if_list) {
 		p = list_entry(q, struct pktgen_dev, list);
 		if (p == pkt_dev)
@@ -4001,9 +4002,6 @@ static int pktgen_remove_device(struct pktgen_thread *t,
 	 * list to determine if interface already exist, avoid race
 	 * with proc_create_data()
 	 */
-	proc_remove(pkt_dev->entry);
-
-	/* And update the thread if_list */
 	_rem_dev_from_if_list(t, pkt_dev);
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_XFRM