diff --git a/src/lib/eina/eina_cow.c b/src/lib/eina/eina_cow.c
index e3ef6d8605..d7f9879ad0 100644
--- a/src/lib/eina/eina_cow.c
+++ b/src/lib/eina/eina_cow.c
@@ -341,12 +341,12 @@ eina_cow_free(Eina_Cow *cow, const Eina_Cow_Data *data)
    VALGRIND_MAKE_MEM_DEFINED(ref, sizeof (ref));
 #endif
    ref->refcount--;
+
+   if (ref->refcount > 0) return ;
 #ifndef NVALGRIND
    VALGRIND_MAKE_MEM_NOACCESS(ref, sizeof (ref));
 #endif
 
-   if (ref->refcount > 0) return ;
-
 #ifndef NVALGRIND
    VALGRIND_MAKE_MEM_DEFINED(ref, sizeof (ref));
 #endif