diff --git a/sys/dev/virtio/block/virtio_blk.c b/sys/dev/virtio/block/virtio_blk.c
index d35421a7659e..cb628f659a49 100644
--- a/sys/dev/virtio/block/virtio_blk.c
+++ b/sys/dev/virtio/block/virtio_blk.c
@@ -338,8 +338,6 @@ vtblk_attach(device_t dev)
 		device_printf(dev, "cannot allocate taskqueue\n");
 		goto fail;
 	}
-	taskqueue_start_threads(&sc->vtblk_tq, 1, PI_DISK, "%s taskq",
-	    device_get_nameunit(dev));
 
 	error = virtio_setup_intr(dev, INTR_TYPE_BIO | INTR_ENTROPY);
 	if (error) {
@@ -347,6 +345,9 @@ vtblk_attach(device_t dev)
 		goto fail;
 	}
 
+	taskqueue_start_threads(&sc->vtblk_tq, 1, PI_DISK, "%s taskq",
+	    device_get_nameunit(dev));
+
 	vtblk_create_disk(sc);
 
 	virtqueue_enable_intr(sc->vtblk_vq);
diff --git a/sys/dev/virtio/network/if_vtnet.c b/sys/dev/virtio/network/if_vtnet.c
index b2ebbf07716a..ffc349afcbd1 100644
--- a/sys/dev/virtio/network/if_vtnet.c
+++ b/sys/dev/virtio/network/if_vtnet.c
@@ -439,18 +439,17 @@ vtnet_attach(device_t dev)
 		ether_ifdetach(ifp);
 		goto fail;
 	}
-	taskqueue_start_threads(&sc->vtnet_tq, 1, PI_NET, "%s taskq",
-	    device_get_nameunit(dev));
 
 	error = virtio_setup_intr(dev, INTR_TYPE_NET);
 	if (error) {
 		device_printf(dev, "cannot setup virtqueue interrupts\n");
-		taskqueue_free(sc->vtnet_tq);
-		sc->vtnet_tq = NULL;
 		ether_ifdetach(ifp);
 		goto fail;
 	}
 
+	taskqueue_start_threads(&sc->vtnet_tq, 1, PI_NET, "%s taskq",
+	    device_get_nameunit(dev));
+
 	/*
 	 * Device defaults to promiscuous mode for backwards
 	 * compatibility. Turn it off if possible.
diff --git a/sys/dev/virtio/scsi/virtio_scsi.c b/sys/dev/virtio/scsi/virtio_scsi.c
index 168e9b86adb8..86684ba97794 100644
--- a/sys/dev/virtio/scsi/virtio_scsi.c
+++ b/sys/dev/virtio/scsi/virtio_scsi.c
@@ -347,12 +347,6 @@ vtscsi_attach(device_t dev)
 		device_printf(dev, "cannot allocate taskqueue\n");
 		goto fail;
 	}
-	error = taskqueue_start_threads(&sc->vtscsi_tq, 1, PI_DISK, "%s taskq",
-	    device_get_nameunit(dev));
-	if (error) {
-		device_printf(dev, "cannot start taskqueue threads\n");
-		goto fail;
-	}
 
 	error = virtio_setup_intr(dev, INTR_TYPE_CAM);
 	if (error) {
@@ -360,6 +354,9 @@ vtscsi_attach(device_t dev)
 		goto fail;
 	}
 
+	taskqueue_start_threads(&sc->vtscsi_tq, 1, PI_DISK, "%s taskq",
+	    device_get_nameunit(dev));
+
 	vtscsi_enable_vqs_intr(sc);
 
 	/*