diff --git a/src/init.cpp b/src/init.cpp
--- a/src/init.cpp
+++ b/src/init.cpp
@@ -306,15 +306,6 @@
     }
 #endif
 
-    try {
-        if (!fs::remove(GetPidFile(*node.args))) {
-            LogPrintf("%s: Unable to remove PID file: File does not exist\n",
-                      __func__);
-        }
-    } catch (const fs::filesystem_error &e) {
-        LogPrintf("%s: Unable to remove PID file: %s\n", __func__,
-                  fsbridge::get_filesystem_error_message(e));
-    }
     node.chain_clients.clear();
     UnregisterAllValidationInterfaces();
     GetMainSignals().UnregisterBackgroundSignalScheduler();
@@ -324,6 +315,17 @@
     node.mempool = nullptr;
     node.chainman = nullptr;
     node.scheduler.reset();
+
+    try {
+        if (!fs::remove(GetPidFile(*node.args))) {
+            LogPrintf("%s: Unable to remove PID file: File does not exist\n",
+                      __func__);
+        }
+    } catch (const fs::filesystem_error &e) {
+        LogPrintf("%s: Unable to remove PID file: %s\n", __func__,
+                  fsbridge::get_filesystem_error_message(e));
+    }
+
     LogPrintf("%s: done\n", __func__);
 }