diff --git a/drivers/net/can/slcan/slcan-core.c b/drivers/net/can/slcan/slcan-core.c
index d9bf75a25988e..057b211f3e7f4 100644
--- a/drivers/net/can/slcan/slcan-core.c
+++ b/drivers/net/can/slcan/slcan-core.c
@@ -688,15 +688,14 @@ static int slc_close(struct net_device *dev)
 		clear_bit(TTY_DO_WRITE_WAKEUP, &sl->tty->flags);
 	}
 	netif_stop_queue(dev);
+	sl->rcount   = 0;
+	sl->xleft    = 0;
+	spin_unlock_bh(&sl->lock);
 	close_candev(dev);
 	sl->can.state = CAN_STATE_STOPPED;
 	if (sl->can.bittiming.bitrate == CAN_BITRATE_UNKNOWN)
 		sl->can.bittiming.bitrate = CAN_BITRATE_UNSET;
 
-	sl->rcount   = 0;
-	sl->xleft    = 0;
-	spin_unlock_bh(&sl->lock);
-
 	return 0;
 }