diff --git a/lightningd/plugin_hook.c b/lightningd/plugin_hook.c
index b6643e7d7..db033428e 100644
--- a/lightningd/plugin_hook.c
+++ b/lightningd/plugin_hook.c
@@ -157,19 +157,20 @@ static void plugin_hook_callback(const char *buffer, const jsmntok_t *toks,
 	struct plugin_hook_call_link *last, *it;
 	bool in_transaction = false;
 
-	log_debug(r->ld->log, "Plugin %s returned from %s hook call",
-		  r->plugin->shortname, r->hook->name);
+	/* Pop the head off the call chain and continue with the next */
+	last = list_pop(&r->call_chain, struct plugin_hook_call_link, list);
+	assert(last != NULL);
+	tal_del_destructor(last, plugin_hook_killed);
+	tal_free(last);
 
 	if (r->ld->state == LD_STATE_SHUTDOWN) {
 		log_debug(r->ld->log,
 			  "Abandoning plugin hook call due to shutdown");
 		return;
 	}
-	/* Pop the head off the call chain and continue with the next */
-	last = list_pop(&r->call_chain, struct plugin_hook_call_link, list);
-	assert(last != NULL);
-	tal_del_destructor(last, plugin_hook_killed);
-	tal_free(last);
+
+	log_debug(r->ld->log, "Plugin %s returned from %s hook call",
+		  r->plugin->shortname, r->hook->name);
 
 	if (buffer) {
 		resulttok = json_get_member(buffer, toks, "result");