diff --git a/scst/src/scst_sysfs.c b/scst/src/scst_sysfs.c
index e82609dd8..82425e87e 100644
--- a/scst/src/scst_sysfs.c
+++ b/scst/src/scst_sysfs.c
@@ -432,10 +432,10 @@ int scst_sysfs_queue_wait_work(struct scst_sysfs_work_item *work)
 
 	active_sysfs_works++;
 
-	spin_unlock(&sysfs_work_lock);
-
 	kref_get(&work->sysfs_work_kref);
 
+	spin_unlock(&sysfs_work_lock);
+
 	wake_up(&sysfs_work_waitQ);
 
 	while (1) {