diff --git a/hw/xfree86/modes/xf86Cursors.c b/hw/xfree86/modes/xf86Cursors.c
index 385848b7a..e2e174e59 100644
--- a/hw/xfree86/modes/xf86Cursors.c
+++ b/hw/xfree86/modes/xf86Cursors.c
@@ -461,11 +461,11 @@ xf86_use_hw_cursor (ScreenPtr screen, CursorPtr cursor)
     xf86CrtcConfigPtr   xf86_config = XF86_CRTC_CONFIG_PTR(scrn);
     xf86CursorInfoPtr	cursor_info = xf86_config->cursor_info;
 
+    ++cursor->refcnt;
     if (xf86_config->cursor)
 	FreeCursor (xf86_config->cursor, None);
     xf86_config->cursor = cursor;
-    ++cursor->refcnt;
-    
+
     if (cursor->bits->width > cursor_info->MaxWidth ||
 	cursor->bits->height> cursor_info->MaxHeight)
 	return FALSE;