diff --git a/gnucash/gnome/gnc-plugin-page-account-tree.c b/gnucash/gnome/gnc-plugin-page-account-tree.c
index fb2154dc4d..cbb434ddc6 100644
--- a/gnucash/gnome/gnc-plugin-page-account-tree.c
+++ b/gnucash/gnome/gnc-plugin-page-account-tree.c
@@ -1668,12 +1668,11 @@ gnc_plugin_page_account_tree_cmd_delete_account (GtkAction *action, GncPluginPag
     if (!(xaccAccountGetSplitList (account) != NULL ||
           gnc_account_n_children (account)))
     {
-        do_delete_account (account, NULL, NULL, NULL);
-
         /* update opening balance account */
         gnc_find_or_create_equity_account (gnc_account_get_root(account),
                                            EQUITY_OPENING_BALANCE,
                                            xaccAccountGetCommodity (account));
+        do_delete_account (account, NULL, NULL, NULL);
         return;
     }
 
@@ -1709,13 +1708,12 @@ gnc_plugin_page_account_tree_cmd_delete_account (GtkAction *action, GncPluginPag
                                 adopt.subacct.new_account,
                                 adopt.delete_res) == GTK_RESPONSE_ACCEPT)
     {
-        do_delete_account (account, adopt.subacct.new_account,
-                           adopt.subtrans.new_account, adopt.trans.new_account);
-
         /* update opening balance account */
         gnc_find_or_create_equity_account (gnc_account_get_root(account),
                                            EQUITY_OPENING_BALANCE,
                                            xaccAccountGetCommodity (account));
+        do_delete_account (account, adopt.subacct.new_account,
+                           adopt.subtrans.new_account, adopt.trans.new_account);
     }
 }