diff --git a/src/gallium/drivers/crocus/crocus_resource.c b/src/gallium/drivers/crocus/crocus_resource.c
index db497aa16e7..08e0d3ed737 100644
--- a/src/gallium/drivers/crocus/crocus_resource.c
+++ b/src/gallium/drivers/crocus/crocus_resource.c
@@ -909,6 +909,8 @@ crocus_resource_from_memobj(struct pipe_screen *pscreen,
    res->offset = offset;
    res->external_format = memobj->format;
 
+   crocus_bo_reference(memobj->bo);
+
    return &res->base.b;
 }
 
@@ -1957,8 +1959,6 @@ crocus_memobj_create_from_handle(struct pipe_screen *pscreen,
    memobj->format = whandle->format;
    memobj->stride = whandle->stride;
 
-   crocus_bo_reference(memobj->bo);
-
    return &memobj->b;
 }