diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_gem_gtt.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_gem_gtt.c
index 9e76347e039e8..1065753e86fb3 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_gem_gtt.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_gem_gtt.c
@@ -1489,7 +1489,8 @@ static int gen8_ppgtt_alloc_pdp(struct i915_address_space *vm,
 		gen8_ppgtt_set_pdpe(pdp, vm->scratch_pd, pdpe);
 		GEM_BUG_ON(!atomic_read(&pdp->used));
 		atomic_dec(&pdp->used);
-		free_pd(vm, pd);
+		GEM_BUG_ON(alloc);
+		alloc = pd; /* defer the free to after the lock */
 	}
 	spin_unlock(&pdp->lock);
 unwind:
@@ -1558,7 +1559,8 @@ static int gen8_ppgtt_alloc_4lvl(struct i915_address_space *vm,
 	spin_lock(&pml4->lock);
 	if (atomic_dec_and_test(&pdp->used)) {
 		gen8_ppgtt_set_pml4e(pml4, vm->scratch_pdp, pml4e);
-		free_pd(vm, pdp);
+		GEM_BUG_ON(alloc);
+		alloc = pdp; /* defer the free until after the lock */
 	}
 	spin_unlock(&pml4->lock);
 unwind: