diff --git a/net/qrtr/qrtr.c b/net/qrtr/qrtr.c
index 77fe6632b3e8..65e208785b06 100644
--- a/net/qrtr/qrtr.c
+++ b/net/qrtr/qrtr.c
@@ -881,13 +881,11 @@ static bool qrtr_must_forward(struct qrtr_node *src,
 	return false;
 }
 
-static void qrtr_fwd_ctrl_pkt(struct sk_buff *skb)
+static void qrtr_fwd_ctrl_pkt(struct qrtr_node *src, struct sk_buff *skb)
 {
 	struct qrtr_node *node;
-	struct qrtr_node *src;
 	struct qrtr_cb *cb = (struct qrtr_cb *)skb->cb;
 
-	src = qrtr_node_lookup(cb->src_node);
 	down_read(&qrtr_epts_lock);
 	list_for_each_entry(node, &qrtr_all_epts, item) {
 		struct sockaddr_qrtr from;
@@ -912,7 +910,6 @@ static void qrtr_fwd_ctrl_pkt(struct sk_buff *skb)
 		qrtr_node_enqueue(node, skbn, cb->type, &from, &to, 0);
 	}
 	up_read(&qrtr_epts_lock);
-	qrtr_node_release(src);
 }
 
 static void qrtr_fwd_pkt(struct sk_buff *skb, struct qrtr_cb *cb)
@@ -972,7 +969,7 @@ static void qrtr_node_rx_work(struct kthread_work *work)
 		struct qrtr_sock *ipc;
 
 		if (cb->type != QRTR_TYPE_DATA)
-			qrtr_fwd_ctrl_pkt(skb);
+			qrtr_fwd_ctrl_pkt(node, skb);
 
 		if (cb->type == QRTR_TYPE_RESUME_TX) {
 			if (cb->dst_node != qrtr_local_nid) {