diff --git a/fs/9p/vfs_inode_dotl.c b/fs/9p/vfs_inode_dotl.c
index a61df2e0ae52..833c638437a7 100644
--- a/fs/9p/vfs_inode_dotl.c
+++ b/fs/9p/vfs_inode_dotl.c
@@ -276,6 +276,7 @@ v9fs_vfs_atomic_open_dotl(struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry,
 	if (IS_ERR(ofid)) {
 		err = PTR_ERR(ofid);
 		p9_debug(P9_DEBUG_VFS, "p9_client_walk failed %d\n", err);
+		p9_client_clunk(dfid);
 		goto out;
 	}
 
@@ -287,6 +288,7 @@ v9fs_vfs_atomic_open_dotl(struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry,
 	if (err) {
 		p9_debug(P9_DEBUG_VFS, "Failed to get acl values in creat %d\n",
 			 err);
+		p9_client_clunk(dfid);
 		goto error;
 	}
 	err = p9_client_create_dotl(ofid, name, v9fs_open_to_dotl_flags(flags),
@@ -294,6 +296,7 @@ v9fs_vfs_atomic_open_dotl(struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry,
 	if (err < 0) {
 		p9_debug(P9_DEBUG_VFS, "p9_client_open_dotl failed in creat %d\n",
 			 err);
+		p9_client_clunk(dfid);
 		goto error;
 	}
 	v9fs_invalidate_inode_attr(dir);