diff --git a/mm/memcontrol.c b/mm/memcontrol.c
index ec0989684367..a19c72138334 100644
--- a/mm/memcontrol.c
+++ b/mm/memcontrol.c
@@ -5790,16 +5790,17 @@ static void mem_cgroup_usage_unregister_event(struct cgroup *cgrp,
 swap_buffers:
 	/* Swap primary and spare array */
 	thresholds->spare = thresholds->primary;
-	/* If all events are unregistered, free the spare array */
-	if (!new) {
-		kfree(thresholds->spare);
-		thresholds->spare = NULL;
-	}
 
 	rcu_assign_pointer(thresholds->primary, new);
 
 	/* To be sure that nobody uses thresholds */
 	synchronize_rcu();
+
+	/* If all events are unregistered, free the spare array */
+	if (!new) {
+		kfree(thresholds->spare);
+		thresholds->spare = NULL;
+	}
 unlock:
 	mutex_unlock(&memcg->thresholds_lock);
 }