diff --git a/net/smc/af_smc.c b/net/smc/af_smc.c
index f9c289e05707..654a81238406 100644
--- a/net/smc/af_smc.c
+++ b/net/smc/af_smc.c
@@ -1264,8 +1264,11 @@ static ssize_t smc_sendpage(struct socket *sock, struct page *page,
 
 	smc = smc_sk(sk);
 	lock_sock(sk);
-	if (sk->sk_state != SMC_ACTIVE)
+	if (sk->sk_state != SMC_ACTIVE) {
+		release_sock(sk);
 		goto out;
+	}
+	release_sock(sk);
 	if (smc->use_fallback)
 		rc = kernel_sendpage(smc->clcsock, page, offset,
 				     size, flags);
@@ -1273,7 +1276,6 @@ static ssize_t smc_sendpage(struct socket *sock, struct page *page,
 		rc = sock_no_sendpage(sock, page, offset, size, flags);
 
 out:
-	release_sock(sk);
 	return rc;
 }