diff --git a/lib/isc/radix.c b/lib/isc/radix.c
index d84e5d0302..54c03832f1 100644
--- a/lib/isc/radix.c
+++ b/lib/isc/radix.c
@@ -694,13 +694,13 @@ isc_radix_remove(isc_radix_tree_t *radix, isc_radix_node_t *node) {
 		return;
 	}
 
-	isc_mem_put(radix->mctx, node, sizeof(*node));
-	radix->num_active_node--;
-
 	if (parent->r == node) {
 		parent->r = child;
 	} else {
 		INSIST(parent->l == node);
 		parent->l = child;
 	}
+
+	isc_mem_put(radix->mctx, node, sizeof(*node));
+	radix->num_active_node--;
 }