diff --git a/drivers/nvme/host/core.c b/drivers/nvme/host/core.c
index dc1641247b17..d57a84f45ed0 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/host/core.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/host/core.c
@@ -3304,6 +3304,7 @@ static int nvme_alloc_ns(struct nvme_ctrl *ctrl, unsigned nsid)
 	mutex_lock(&ctrl->subsys->lock);
 	list_del_rcu(&ns->siblings);
 	mutex_unlock(&ctrl->subsys->lock);
+	nvme_put_ns_head(ns->head);
  out_free_id:
 	kfree(id);
  out_free_queue: