diff --git a/src/core/settings/nm-settings.c b/src/core/settings/nm-settings.c
index 4a27f1ef6..1ff66e25d 100644
--- a/src/core/settings/nm-settings.c
+++ b/src/core/settings/nm-settings.c
@@ -567,6 +567,8 @@ _startup_complete_check(NMSettings *self, gint64 now_msec)
         return;
     }
 
+    nm_clear_g_source(&priv->startup_complete_timeout_id);
+
     if (c_list_is_empty(&priv->startup_complete_scd_lst_head))
         goto ready;
 
@@ -602,8 +604,6 @@ next_with_ready:
     }
     c_list_splice(&priv->startup_complete_scd_lst_head, &ready_lst);
 
-    nm_clear_g_source(&priv->startup_complete_timeout_id);
-
     if (scd_not_ready) {
         gint64 timeout_msec;