diff --git a/net/openvswitch/conntrack.c b/net/openvswitch/conntrack.c
index 3e8892216f948f54afb75fde76bf2b1fa7b754ca..e004067ec24ac448467c0bd5a552eea019975e56 100644
--- a/net/openvswitch/conntrack.c
+++ b/net/openvswitch/conntrack.c
@@ -698,6 +698,10 @@ int ovs_ct_copy_action(struct net *net, const struct nlattr *attr,
 		OVS_NLERR(log, "Failed to allocate conntrack template");
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
+
+	__set_bit(IPS_CONFIRMED_BIT, &ct_info.ct->status);
+	nf_conntrack_get(&ct_info.ct->ct_general);
+
 	if (helper) {
 		err = ovs_ct_add_helper(&ct_info, helper, key, log);
 		if (err)
@@ -709,8 +713,6 @@ int ovs_ct_copy_action(struct net *net, const struct nlattr *attr,
 	if (err)
 		goto err_free_ct;
 
-	__set_bit(IPS_CONFIRMED_BIT, &ct_info.ct->status);
-	nf_conntrack_get(&ct_info.ct->ct_general);
 	return 0;
 err_free_ct:
 	__ovs_ct_free_action(&ct_info);