diff --git a/include/net/llc.h b/include/net/llc.h
index dc35f25eb679..890a87318014 100644
--- a/include/net/llc.h
+++ b/include/net/llc.h
@@ -116,6 +116,11 @@ static inline void llc_sap_hold(struct llc_sap *sap)
 	refcount_inc(&sap->refcnt);
 }
 
+static inline bool llc_sap_hold_safe(struct llc_sap *sap)
+{
+	return refcount_inc_not_zero(&sap->refcnt);
+}
+
 void llc_sap_close(struct llc_sap *sap);
 
 static inline void llc_sap_put(struct llc_sap *sap)
diff --git a/net/llc/llc_core.c b/net/llc/llc_core.c
index 89041260784c..260b3dc1b4a2 100644
--- a/net/llc/llc_core.c
+++ b/net/llc/llc_core.c
@@ -73,8 +73,8 @@ struct llc_sap *llc_sap_find(unsigned char sap_value)
 
 	rcu_read_lock_bh();
 	sap = __llc_sap_find(sap_value);
-	if (sap)
-		llc_sap_hold(sap);
+	if (!sap || !llc_sap_hold_safe(sap))
+		sap = NULL;
 	rcu_read_unlock_bh();
 	return sap;
 }