diff --git a/src/dhcp/nm-dhcp-nettools.c b/src/dhcp/nm-dhcp-nettools.c
index 2af73cdc3c..622251a31c 100644
--- a/src/dhcp/nm-dhcp-nettools.c
+++ b/src/dhcp/nm-dhcp-nettools.c
@@ -1073,8 +1073,8 @@ dhcp4_event_cb (GIOChannel *source,
 		 * a predefined number of times (possibly infinite).
 		 */
 		_LOGE ("error %d dispatching events", r);
-		nm_dhcp_client_set_state (NM_DHCP_CLIENT (self), NM_DHCP_STATE_FAIL, NULL, NULL);
 		priv->event_id = 0;
+		nm_dhcp_client_set_state (NM_DHCP_CLIENT (self), NM_DHCP_STATE_FAIL, NULL, NULL);
 		return G_SOURCE_REMOVE;
 	}