diff --git a/src/synth/fluid_synth.c b/src/synth/fluid_synth.c
index 08766c42..57d16254 100644
--- a/src/synth/fluid_synth.c
+++ b/src/synth/fluid_synth.c
@@ -489,13 +489,13 @@ void fluid_sample_timer_process(fluid_synth_t* synth)
         unsigned int ticks = fluid_synth_get_ticks(synth);
 	
 	for (st=synth->sample_timers; st; st=stnext) {
+		/* st may be freed in the callback below. cache it's successor now to avoid use after free */
+		stnext = st->next;
+        
 		if (st->isfinished) {
 			continue;
 		}
-
 		msec = (long) (1000.0*((double) (ticks - st->starttick))/synth->sample_rate);
-		/* st may be freed in the callback below. cache it's successor now to avoid use after free */
-		stnext = st->next;
 		cont = (*st->callback)(st->data, msec);
 		if (cont == 0) {
 			st->isfinished = 1;