diff --git a/net/xfrm/xfrm_policy.c b/net/xfrm/xfrm_policy.c
index f1a0bab920a55..4f8bbb825abcb 100644
--- a/net/xfrm/xfrm_policy.c
+++ b/net/xfrm/xfrm_policy.c
@@ -3599,6 +3599,7 @@ int __xfrm_policy_check(struct sock *sk, int dir, struct sk_buff *skb,
 		if (pols[1]) {
 			if (IS_ERR(pols[1])) {
 				XFRM_INC_STATS(net, LINUX_MIB_XFRMINPOLERROR);
+				xfrm_pol_put(pols[0]);
 				return 0;
 			}
 			pols[1]->curlft.use_time = ktime_get_real_seconds();