diff --git a/src/udev/udevd.c b/src/udev/udevd.c
index fd799cc91..7c6c5d6a8 100644
--- a/src/udev/udevd.c
+++ b/src/udev/udevd.c
@@ -314,10 +314,12 @@ static void worker_new(struct event *event)
                         udev_device_unref(dev);
                         dev = NULL;
 
-                        udev_event_unref(udev_event);
-
-                        if (udev_event->sigterm)
+                        if (udev_event->sigterm) {
+                                udev_event_unref(udev_event);
                                 goto out;
+                        }
+
+                        udev_event_unref(udev_event);
 
                         /* wait for more device messages from main udevd, or term signal */
                         while (dev == NULL) {