diff --git a/res/res_smdi.c b/res/res_smdi.c
index 0edabb83c516a894e33ccdb2ffe1d72de11451f4..e2b2e1b06154132467a2279c1da44f1340a3e76e 100644
--- a/res/res_smdi.c
+++ b/res/res_smdi.c
@@ -1377,6 +1377,9 @@ static int load_module(void)
 	ast_custom_function_register(&smdi_msg_retrieve_function);
 	ast_custom_function_register(&smdi_msg_function);
 
+	/* For Optional API. */
+	ast_module_shutdown_ref(AST_MODULE_SELF);
+
 	return AST_MODULE_LOAD_SUCCESS;
 }
 
@@ -1406,9 +1409,6 @@ static int _unload_module(int fromload)
 
 	smdi_loaded = 0;
 
-	/* For Optional API. */
-	ast_module_shutdown_ref(AST_MODULE_SELF);
-
 	return 0;
 }