diff --git a/cgroups/fs/apply_raw.go b/cgroups/fs/apply_raw.go
index 5338293f2..58046b0ad 100644
--- a/cgroups/fs/apply_raw.go
+++ b/cgroups/fs/apply_raw.go
@@ -124,14 +124,16 @@ func Freeze(c *cgroups.Cgroup, state cgroups.FreezerState) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
+	prevState := c.Freezer
+	c.Freezer = state
+
 	freezer := subsystems["freezer"]
 	err = freezer.Set(d)
 	if err != nil {
+		c.Freezer = prevState
 		return err
 	}
 
-	c.Freezer = state
-
 	return nil
 }