diff --git a/net/netlink/af_netlink.c b/net/netlink/af_netlink.c
index 533fd0503ba0..9219bc134109 100644
--- a/net/netlink/af_netlink.c
+++ b/net/netlink/af_netlink.c
@@ -2276,7 +2276,7 @@ int __netlink_dump_start(struct sock *ssk, struct sk_buff *skb,
 	if (cb->start) {
 		ret = cb->start(cb);
 		if (ret)
-			goto error_unlock;
+			goto error_put;
 	}
 
 	nlk->cb_running = true;
@@ -2296,6 +2296,8 @@ int __netlink_dump_start(struct sock *ssk, struct sk_buff *skb,
 	 */
 	return -EINTR;
 
+error_put:
+	module_put(control->module);
 error_unlock:
 	sock_put(sk);
 	mutex_unlock(nlk->cb_mutex);