diff --git a/mt7615/usb_mcu.c b/mt7615/usb_mcu.c
index 54885ad9..39cd7dd9 100644
--- a/mt7615/usb_mcu.c
+++ b/mt7615/usb_mcu.c
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ mt7663u_mcu_send_message(struct mt76_dev *mdev, struct sk_buff *skb,
 
 	ret = mt76u_bulk_msg(&dev->mt76, skb->data, skb->len, NULL,
 			     1000, ep);
-	dev_kfree_skb(skb);
 	if (ret < 0)
 		goto out;
 
@@ -43,6 +42,7 @@ mt7663u_mcu_send_message(struct mt76_dev *mdev, struct sk_buff *skb,
 
 out:
 	mutex_unlock(&mdev->mcu.mutex);
+	dev_kfree_skb(skb);
 
 	return ret;
 }