diff --git a/net/netfilter/nf_tables_api.c b/net/netfilter/nf_tables_api.c
index d35d09df83fe..d8e66467c06c 100644
--- a/net/netfilter/nf_tables_api.c
+++ b/net/netfilter/nf_tables_api.c
@@ -2103,7 +2103,6 @@ static int nf_tables_addchain(struct nft_ctx *ctx, u8 family, u8 genmask,
 			      struct netlink_ext_ack *extack)
 {
 	const struct nlattr * const *nla = ctx->nla;
-	struct nft_stats __percpu *stats = NULL;
 	struct nft_table *table = ctx->table;
 	struct nft_base_chain *basechain;
 	struct net *net = ctx->net;
@@ -2117,6 +2116,7 @@ static int nf_tables_addchain(struct nft_ctx *ctx, u8 family, u8 genmask,
 		return -EOVERFLOW;
 
 	if (nla[NFTA_CHAIN_HOOK]) {
+		struct nft_stats __percpu *stats = NULL;
 		struct nft_chain_hook hook;
 
 		if (flags & NFT_CHAIN_BINDING)
@@ -2150,6 +2150,8 @@ static int nf_tables_addchain(struct nft_ctx *ctx, u8 family, u8 genmask,
 			kfree(basechain);
 			return err;
 		}
+		if (stats)
+			static_branch_inc(&nft_counters_enabled);
 	} else {
 		if (flags & NFT_CHAIN_BASE)
 			return -EINVAL;
@@ -2224,9 +2226,6 @@ static int nf_tables_addchain(struct nft_ctx *ctx, u8 family, u8 genmask,
 		goto err_unregister_hook;
 	}
 
-	if (stats)
-		static_branch_inc(&nft_counters_enabled);
-
 	table->use++;
 
 	return 0;