diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/xe/xe_guc_pc.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/xe/xe_guc_pc.c
index 9530cddbd11d..59f2fa79ad42 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/xe/xe_guc_pc.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/xe/xe_guc_pc.c
@@ -1340,10 +1340,10 @@ static void xe_guc_pc_fini_hw(void *arg)
 	if (xe_device_wedged(xe))
 		return;
 
-	CLASS(xe_force_wake, fw_ref)(gt_to_fw(pc_to_gt(pc)), XE_FW_GT);
 	xe_guc_pc_stop(pc);
 
 	/* Bind requested freq to mert_freq_cap before unload */
+	CLASS(xe_force_wake, fw_ref)(gt_to_fw(pc_to_gt(pc)), XE_FW_GT);
 	pc_set_cur_freq(pc, min(pc_max_freq_cap(pc), xe_guc_pc_get_rpe_freq(pc)));
 }