diff --git a/net/batman-adv/bat_v_elp.c b/net/batman-adv/bat_v_elp.c
index bfc49d48eb57..e92dfedccc16 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/bat_v_elp.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/bat_v_elp.c
@@ -254,6 +254,7 @@ static void batadv_v_elp_periodic_work(struct work_struct *work)
 	struct batadv_priv *bat_priv;
 	struct sk_buff *skb;
 	u32 elp_interval;
+	bool ret;
 
 	bat_v = container_of(work, struct batadv_hard_iface_bat_v, elp_wq.work);
 	hard_iface = container_of(bat_v, struct batadv_hard_iface, bat_v);
@@ -315,8 +316,11 @@ static void batadv_v_elp_periodic_work(struct work_struct *work)
 		 * may sleep and that is not allowed in an rcu protected
 		 * context. Therefore schedule a task for that.
 		 */
-		queue_work(batadv_event_workqueue,
-			   &hardif_neigh->bat_v.metric_work);
+		ret = queue_work(batadv_event_workqueue,
+				 &hardif_neigh->bat_v.metric_work);
+
+		if (!ret)
+			batadv_hardif_neigh_put(hardif_neigh);
 	}
 	rcu_read_unlock();