diff --git a/kernel/relay.c b/kernel/relay.c
index 01ab081ac53a78..a0d200012adb6d 100644
--- a/kernel/relay.c
+++ b/kernel/relay.c
@@ -234,7 +234,6 @@ static void relay_destroy_buf(struct rchan_buf *buf)
 static void relay_remove_buf(struct kref *kref)
 {
 	struct rchan_buf *buf = container_of(kref, struct rchan_buf, kref);
-	buf->chan->cb->remove_buf_file(buf->dentry);
 	relay_destroy_buf(buf);
 }
 
@@ -484,6 +483,7 @@ static void relay_close_buf(struct rchan_buf *buf)
 {
 	buf->finalized = 1;
 	del_timer_sync(&buf->timer);
+	buf->chan->cb->remove_buf_file(buf->dentry);
 	kref_put(&buf->kref, relay_remove_buf);
 }