diff --git a/block/block-backend.c b/block/block-backend.c
index f71fdb4315..551e4e1708 100644
--- a/block/block-backend.c
+++ b/block/block-backend.c
@@ -1339,8 +1339,8 @@ static const AIOCBInfo blk_aio_em_aiocb_info = {
 static void blk_aio_complete(BlkAioEmAIOCB *acb)
 {
     if (acb->has_returned) {
-        blk_dec_in_flight(acb->rwco.blk);
         acb->common.cb(acb->common.opaque, acb->rwco.ret);
+        blk_dec_in_flight(acb->rwco.blk);
         qemu_aio_unref(acb);
     }
 }