diff --git a/src/flow.c b/src/flow.c
index fce1ae3f31..7f7ea6f8c0 100644
--- a/src/flow.c
+++ b/src/flow.c
@@ -1046,6 +1046,10 @@ int FlowClearMemory(Flow* f, uint8_t proto_map)
 {
     SCEnter();
 
+    if (unlikely(f->flags & FLOW_HAS_EXPECTATION)) {
+        AppLayerExpectationClean(f);
+    }
+
     /* call the protocol specific free function if we have one */
     if (flow_freefuncs[proto_map].Freefunc != NULL) {
         flow_freefuncs[proto_map].Freefunc(f->protoctx);
@@ -1053,9 +1057,6 @@ int FlowClearMemory(Flow* f, uint8_t proto_map)
 
     FlowFreeStorage(f);
 
-    if (f->flags & FLOW_HAS_EXPECTATION)
-        AppLayerExpectationClean(f);
-
     FLOW_RECYCLE(f);
 
     SCReturnInt(1);