diff --git a/src/knownhost.c b/src/knownhost.c
index 409ef29..7fe1e97 100644
--- a/src/knownhost.c
+++ b/src/knownhost.c
@@ -354,12 +354,13 @@ libssh2_knownhost_del(LIBSSH2_KNOWNHOSTS *hosts,
     /* unlink from the list of all hosts */
     _libssh2_list_remove(&node->node);
 
+    /* clear the struct now since the memory in which it is allocated is
+       about to be freed! */
+    memset(entry, 0, sizeof(struct libssh2_knownhost));
+
     /* free all resources */
     free_host(hosts->session, node);
 
-    /* clear the struct now since this host entry has been removed! */
-    memset(entry, 0, sizeof(struct libssh2_knownhost));
-
     return 0;
 }