diff --git a/sys/netgraph/ng_checksum.c b/sys/netgraph/ng_checksum.c
index 682375c805d..3b542bd86ac 100644
--- a/sys/netgraph/ng_checksum.c
+++ b/sys/netgraph/ng_checksum.c
@@ -682,9 +682,9 @@ bypass:
 	return (error);
 
 done:
+	NG_FREE_M(m);
 drop:
 	NG_FREE_ITEM(item);
-	NG_FREE_M(m);
 
 	priv->stats.dropped++;