diff --git a/sound/usb/caiaq/device.c b/sound/usb/caiaq/device.c
index 8af0c04041ee..ad9f744b496b 100644
--- a/sound/usb/caiaq/device.c
+++ b/sound/usb/caiaq/device.c
@@ -423,6 +423,7 @@ static int create_card(struct usb_device *usb_dev,
 
 	cdev = caiaqdev(card);
 	cdev->chip.dev = usb_get_dev(usb_dev);
+	card->private_free = card_free;
 	cdev->chip.card = card;
 	cdev->chip.usb_id = USB_ID(le16_to_cpu(usb_dev->descriptor.idVendor),
 				  le16_to_cpu(usb_dev->descriptor.idProduct));
@@ -511,7 +512,6 @@ static int init_card(struct snd_usb_caiaqdev *cdev)
 	scnprintf(card->longname, sizeof(card->longname), "%s %s (%s)",
 		       cdev->vendor_name, cdev->product_name, usbpath);
 
-	card->private_free = card_free;
 	err = setup_card(cdev);
 	if (err < 0)
 		return err;