diff --git a/api/src/glfs.c b/api/src/glfs.c
index 652520c41..6f7b6cde5 100644
--- a/api/src/glfs.c
+++ b/api/src/glfs.c
@@ -1266,6 +1266,7 @@ pub_glfs_fini (struct glfs *fs)
 
         if (ctx->mgmt) {
                 rpc_clnt_disable (ctx->mgmt);
+                rpc_clnt_unref (ctx->mgmt);
                 ctx->mgmt = NULL;
         }