diff --git a/drivers/mtd/nand/nand_base.c b/drivers/mtd/nand/nand_base.c
index 62b861304e03..c8cbc00243fe 100644
--- a/drivers/mtd/nand/nand_base.c
+++ b/drivers/mtd/nand/nand_base.c
@@ -1093,9 +1093,10 @@ static int nand_read(struct mtd_info *mtd, loff_t from, size_t len,
 
 	ret = nand_do_read_ops(mtd, from, &chip->ops);
 
+	*retlen = chip->ops.retlen;
+
 	nand_release_device(mtd);
 
-	*retlen = chip->ops.retlen;
 	return ret;
 }
 
@@ -1691,9 +1692,10 @@ static int nand_write(struct mtd_info *mtd, loff_t to, size_t len,
 
 	ret = nand_do_write_ops(mtd, to, &chip->ops);
 
+	*retlen = chip->ops.retlen;
+
 	nand_release_device(mtd);
 
-	*retlen = chip->ops.retlen;
 	return ret;
 }