diff --git a/block/linux-aio.c b/block/linux-aio.c
index 19eb922fdd90..217ce6013834 100644
--- a/block/linux-aio.c
+++ b/block/linux-aio.c
@@ -234,9 +234,9 @@ static void qemu_laio_process_completions(LinuxAioState *s)
 
 static void qemu_laio_process_completions_and_submit(LinuxAioState *s)
 {
+    aio_context_acquire(s->aio_context);
     qemu_laio_process_completions(s);
 
-    aio_context_acquire(s->aio_context);
     if (!s->io_q.plugged && !QSIMPLEQ_EMPTY(&s->io_q.pending)) {
         ioq_submit(s);
     }