diff --git a/fs/ubifs/dir.c b/fs/ubifs/dir.c
index 190ed41de963..fd77ab06ceac 100644
--- a/fs/ubifs/dir.c
+++ b/fs/ubifs/dir.c
@@ -439,6 +439,8 @@ out_inode:
 	make_bad_inode(inode);
 	if (!instantiated)
 		iput(inode);
+	else if (whiteout)
+		iput(*whiteout);
 out_budg:
 	ubifs_release_budget(c, &req);
 	if (!instantiated)