diff --git a/net/mptcp/protocol.c b/net/mptcp/protocol.c
index 7a5f679855d2c..ea113e76ced9a 100644
--- a/net/mptcp/protocol.c
+++ b/net/mptcp/protocol.c
@@ -2106,6 +2106,14 @@ static struct sock *mptcp_subflow_get_retrans(const struct mptcp_sock *msk)
 	return backup;
 }
 
+static void mptcp_dispose_initial_subflow(struct mptcp_sock *msk)
+{
+	if (msk->subflow) {
+		iput(SOCK_INODE(msk->subflow));
+		msk->subflow = NULL;
+	}
+}
+
 /* subflow sockets can be either outgoing (connect) or incoming
  * (accept).
  *
@@ -2150,6 +2158,9 @@ static void __mptcp_close_ssk(struct sock *sk, struct sock *ssk,
 
 	if (ssk == msk->last_snd)
 		msk->last_snd = NULL;
+
+	if (msk->subflow && ssk == msk->subflow->sk)
+		mptcp_dispose_initial_subflow(msk);
 }
 
 void mptcp_close_ssk(struct sock *sk, struct sock *ssk,
@@ -2519,12 +2530,6 @@ static void __mptcp_destroy_sock(struct sock *sk)
 
 	might_sleep();
 
-	/* dispose the ancillatory tcp socket, if any */
-	if (msk->subflow) {
-		iput(SOCK_INODE(msk->subflow));
-		msk->subflow = NULL;
-	}
-
 	/* be sure to always acquire the join list lock, to sync vs
 	 * mptcp_finish_join().
 	 */
@@ -2549,6 +2554,7 @@ static void __mptcp_destroy_sock(struct sock *sk)
 	sk_stream_kill_queues(sk);
 	xfrm_sk_free_policy(sk);
 	sk_refcnt_debug_release(sk);
+	mptcp_dispose_initial_subflow(msk);
 	sock_put(sk);
 }