diff --git a/lib/libc/rpc/rpcb_clnt.c b/lib/libc/rpc/rpcb_clnt.c
index 49300ed37db0..84775052374e 100644
--- a/lib/libc/rpc/rpcb_clnt.c
+++ b/lib/libc/rpc/rpcb_clnt.c
@@ -661,11 +661,11 @@ __rpcbind_is_up(void)
 		    strcmp(nconf->nc_protofmly, NC_LOOPBACK) == 0)
 			 break;
 	}
+	endnetconfig(localhandle);
+
 	if (nconf == NULL)
 		return (FALSE);
 
-	endnetconfig(localhandle);
-
 	memset(&sun, 0, sizeof sun);
 	sock = _socket(AF_LOCAL, SOCK_STREAM, 0);
 	if (sock < 0)