diff --git a/fs/ext2/xattr.c b/fs/ext2/xattr.c
index fbdb8f171893..babef30d440b 100644
--- a/fs/ext2/xattr.c
+++ b/fs/ext2/xattr.c
@@ -609,9 +609,9 @@ bad_block:		ext2_error(sb, "ext2_xattr_set",
 	}
 
 cleanup:
-	brelse(bh);
 	if (!(bh && header == HDR(bh)))
 		kfree(header);
+	brelse(bh);
 	up_write(&EXT2_I(inode)->xattr_sem);
 
 	return error;