diff --git a/src/osg/Group.cpp b/src/osg/Group.cpp
index 809a92d19..030a34aeb 100644
--- a/src/osg/Group.cpp
+++ b/src/osg/Group.cpp
@@ -177,10 +177,10 @@ bool Group::removeChildren(unsigned int pos,unsigned int numChildrenToRemove)
 
         }
 
-        _children.erase(_children.begin()+pos,_children.begin()+endOfRemoveRange);
-
         childRemoved(pos,endOfRemoveRange-pos);
 
+        _children.erase(_children.begin()+pos,_children.begin()+endOfRemoveRange);
+
         if (updateCallbackRemoved)
         {
             setNumChildrenRequiringUpdateTraversal(getNumChildrenRequiringUpdateTraversal()-updateCallbackRemoved);