diff --git a/net/netfilter/nf_tables_api.c b/net/netfilter/nf_tables_api.c
index a7f10941a935..25945090d528 100644
--- a/net/netfilter/nf_tables_api.c
+++ b/net/netfilter/nf_tables_api.c
@@ -2621,19 +2621,6 @@ static int nf_tables_updchain(struct nft_ctx *ctx, u8 genmask, u8 policy,
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (nla[NFTA_CHAIN_COUNTERS]) {
-		if (!nft_is_base_chain(chain)) {
-			err = -EOPNOTSUPP;
-			goto err_hooks;
-		}
-
-		stats = nft_stats_alloc(nla[NFTA_CHAIN_COUNTERS]);
-		if (IS_ERR(stats)) {
-			err = PTR_ERR(stats);
-			goto err_hooks;
-		}
-	}
-
 	if (!(table->flags & NFT_TABLE_F_DORMANT) &&
 	    nft_is_base_chain(chain) &&
 	    !list_empty(&hook.list)) {
@@ -2648,6 +2635,20 @@ static int nf_tables_updchain(struct nft_ctx *ctx, u8 genmask, u8 policy,
 	}
 
 	unregister = true;
+
+	if (nla[NFTA_CHAIN_COUNTERS]) {
+		if (!nft_is_base_chain(chain)) {
+			err = -EOPNOTSUPP;
+			goto err_hooks;
+		}
+
+		stats = nft_stats_alloc(nla[NFTA_CHAIN_COUNTERS]);
+		if (IS_ERR(stats)) {
+			err = PTR_ERR(stats);
+			goto err_hooks;
+		}
+	}
+
 	err = -ENOMEM;
 	trans = nft_trans_alloc(ctx, NFT_MSG_NEWCHAIN,
 				sizeof(struct nft_trans_chain));