diff --git a/test/litest.c b/test/litest.c
index 4f26771f..d34bd3c5 100644
--- a/test/litest.c
+++ b/test/litest.c
@@ -1341,8 +1341,8 @@ litest_delete_device(struct litest_device *d)
 	litest_assert_int_eq(d->skip_ev_syn, 0);
 
 	if (d->libinput_device) {
-		libinput_device_unref(d->libinput_device);
 		libinput_path_remove_device(d->libinput_device);
+		libinput_device_unref(d->libinput_device);
 	}
 	if (d->owns_context)
 		libinput_unref(d->libinput);