diff --git a/src/udev/udevd.c b/src/udev/udevd.c
index 7c6c5d6a8..fd799cc91 100644
--- a/src/udev/udevd.c
+++ b/src/udev/udevd.c
@@ -314,13 +314,11 @@ static void worker_new(struct event *event)
                         udev_device_unref(dev);
                         dev = NULL;
 
-                        if (udev_event->sigterm) {
-                                udev_event_unref(udev_event);
-                                goto out;
-                        }
-
                         udev_event_unref(udev_event);
 
+                        if (udev_event->sigterm)
+                                goto out;
+
                         /* wait for more device messages from main udevd, or term signal */
                         while (dev == NULL) {
                                 struct epoll_event ev[4];