diff --git a/reactos/dll/win32/ws2_32/misc/handle.c b/reactos/dll/win32/ws2_32/misc/handle.c
index f22b5e415f6..2e5e49b0624 100644
--- a/reactos/dll/win32/ws2_32/misc/handle.c
+++ b/reactos/dll/win32/ws2_32/misc/handle.c
@@ -251,11 +251,12 @@ CloseProviderHandle(HANDLE Handle)
 
     Provider = DeleteProviderHandle(ProviderHandleTable,
                                     Handle);
-    if (!Provider)
-        return FALSE;
 
     LeaveCriticalSection(&ProviderHandleTableLock);
 
+    if (!Provider)
+        return FALSE;
+
     DereferenceProviderByPointer(Provider);
 
     return TRUE;