diff --git a/net/qrtr/mhi.c b/net/qrtr/mhi.c
index ff0c41467fc1..0fe4bf40919d 100644
--- a/net/qrtr/mhi.c
+++ b/net/qrtr/mhi.c
@@ -50,6 +50,9 @@ static int qcom_mhi_qrtr_send(struct qrtr_endpoint *ep, struct sk_buff *skb)
 	struct qrtr_mhi_dev *qdev = container_of(ep, struct qrtr_mhi_dev, ep);
 	int rc;
 
+	if (skb->sk)
+		sock_hold(skb->sk);
+
 	rc = skb_linearize(skb);
 	if (rc)
 		goto free_skb;
@@ -59,12 +62,11 @@ static int qcom_mhi_qrtr_send(struct qrtr_endpoint *ep, struct sk_buff *skb)
 	if (rc)
 		goto free_skb;
 
-	if (skb->sk)
-		sock_hold(skb->sk);
-
 	return rc;
 
 free_skb:
+	if (skb->sk)
+		sock_put(skb->sk);
 	kfree_skb(skb);
 
 	return rc;