diff --git a/drivers/net/xen-netback/xenbus.c b/drivers/net/xen-netback/xenbus.c
index d24b7a7993aa0..3fad58d22155b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/xen-netback/xenbus.c
+++ b/drivers/net/xen-netback/xenbus.c
@@ -256,6 +256,7 @@ static void backend_disconnect(struct backend_info *be)
 		unsigned int queue_index;
 
 		xen_unregister_watchers(vif);
+		xenbus_rm(XBT_NIL, be->dev->nodename, "hotplug-status");
 #ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_FS
 		xenvif_debugfs_delif(vif);
 #endif /* CONFIG_DEBUG_FS */
@@ -675,7 +676,6 @@ static void hotplug_status_changed(struct xenbus_watch *watch,
 
 		/* Not interested in this watch anymore. */
 		unregister_hotplug_status_watch(be);
-		xenbus_rm(XBT_NIL, be->dev->nodename, "hotplug-status");
 	}
 	kfree(str);
 }