diff --git a/sys/netinet/tcp_syncache.c b/sys/netinet/tcp_syncache.c
index 04a964cf40cc..cb175d07c4d2 100644
--- a/sys/netinet/tcp_syncache.c
+++ b/sys/netinet/tcp_syncache.c
@@ -1604,8 +1604,6 @@ syncache_add(struct in_conninfo *inc, struct tcpopt *to, struct tcphdr *th,
 				    ("%s: bucket unexpectedly unlocked",
 				    __func__));
 				SCH_UNLOCK(sch);
-				if (ipopts)
-					(void)m_free(ipopts);
 				goto done;
 			}
 		}
@@ -1775,6 +1773,8 @@ syncache_add(struct in_conninfo *inc, struct tcpopt *to, struct tcphdr *th,
 #ifdef MAC
 		mac_syncache_destroy(&maclabel);
 #endif
+		if (ipopts)
+			(void)m_free(ipopts);
 	}
 	return (rv);
 }