diff --git a/wgpu-core/src/device/resource.rs b/wgpu-core/src/device/resource.rs
index 78f7ddee0..4f6f1c14b 100644
--- a/wgpu-core/src/device/resource.rs
+++ b/wgpu-core/src/device/resource.rs
@@ -3362,9 +3362,11 @@ impl<A: HalApi> Device<A> {
         // 1) Resolve the GPUDevice device.lost promise.
         let mut life_lock = self.lock_life();
         let closure = life_lock.device_lost_closure.take();
+        // It's important to not hold the lock while calling the closure and while calling
+        // release_gpu_resources which may take the lock again.
+        drop(life_lock);
+
         if let Some(device_lost_closure) = closure {
-            // It's important to not hold the lock while calling the closure.
-            drop(life_lock);
             device_lost_closure.call(DeviceLostReason::Unknown, message.to_string());
         }