diff --git a/virtcontainers/sandbox.go b/virtcontainers/sandbox.go
index f8f744fd5a..7b8a79352c 100644
--- a/virtcontainers/sandbox.go
+++ b/virtcontainers/sandbox.go
@@ -1473,6 +1473,11 @@ func (s *Sandbox) Stop(force bool) error {
 		}
 	}
 
+	// Remove the network.
+	if err := s.removeNetwork(); err != nil && !force {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	if err := s.stopVM(); err != nil && !force {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -1481,11 +1486,6 @@ func (s *Sandbox) Stop(force bool) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	// Remove the network.
-	if err := s.removeNetwork(); err != nil && !force {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	if err := s.storeSandbox(); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}