diff --git a/net/smc/af_smc.c b/net/smc/af_smc.c
index 4c904ab29e0e..dcd00b514c3f 100644
--- a/net/smc/af_smc.c
+++ b/net/smc/af_smc.c
@@ -1031,7 +1031,6 @@ static void smc_listen_out_connected(struct smc_sock *new_smc)
 {
 	struct sock *newsmcsk = &new_smc->sk;
 
-	sk_refcnt_debug_inc(newsmcsk);
 	if (newsmcsk->sk_state == SMC_INIT)
 		newsmcsk->sk_state = SMC_ACTIVE;