diff --git a/net/core/rtnetlink.c b/net/core/rtnetlink.c
index 342b92afd121..76ff9a35ccf6 100644
--- a/net/core/rtnetlink.c
+++ b/net/core/rtnetlink.c
@@ -5304,6 +5304,7 @@ static int rtnetlink_rcv_msg(struct sk_buff *skb, struct nlmsghdr *nlh,
 	if (kind == RTNL_KIND_DEL && (nlh->nlmsg_flags & NLM_F_BULK) &&
 	    !(flags & RTNL_FLAG_BULK_DEL_SUPPORTED)) {
 		NL_SET_ERR_MSG(extack, "Bulk delete is not supported");
+		module_put(owner);
 		goto err_unlock;
 	}