diff --git a/fs/sysfs/file.c b/fs/sysfs/file.c
index a12ac0356c69..f21e73d10724 100644
--- a/fs/sysfs/file.c
+++ b/fs/sysfs/file.c
@@ -450,6 +450,8 @@ struct kernfs_node *sysfs_break_active_protection(struct kobject *kobj,
 	kn = kernfs_find_and_get(kobj->sd, attr->name);
 	if (kn)
 		kernfs_break_active_protection(kn);
+	else
+		kobject_put(kobj);
 	return kn;
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(sysfs_break_active_protection);