diff --git a/src/lxc/lxccontainer.c b/src/lxc/lxccontainer.c
index 241a9d21b..839bd3065 100644
--- a/src/lxc/lxccontainer.c
+++ b/src/lxc/lxccontainer.c
@@ -345,7 +345,9 @@ int lxc_container_put(struct lxc_container *c)
 	if (container_mem_lock(c))
 		return -1;
 
-	if (--c->numthreads < 1) {
+	c->numthreads--;
+
+	if (c->numthreads < 1) {
 		container_mem_unlock(c);
 		lxc_container_free(c);
 		return 1;