diff --git a/sched/signal/sig_timedwait.c b/sched/signal/sig_timedwait.c
index 40cf8b55e6a..7003572964e 100644
--- a/sched/signal/sig_timedwait.c
+++ b/sched/signal/sig_timedwait.c
@@ -234,14 +234,14 @@ int sigtimedwait(FAR const sigset_t *set, FAR struct siginfo *info,
           memcpy(info, &sigpend->info, sizeof(struct siginfo));
         }
 
+      /* The return value is the number of the signal that awakened us */
+
+      ret = sigpend->info.si_signo;
+
       /* Then dispose of the pending signal structure properly */
 
       sig_releasependingsignal(sigpend);
       leave_critical_section(flags);
-
-      /* The return value is the number of the signal that awakened us */
-
-      ret = sigpend->info.si_signo;
     }
 
   /* We will have to wait for a signal to be posted to this task. */