diff --git a/net/batman-adv/main.c b/net/batman-adv/main.c
index c8d8bc78a518..5f2974bd1227 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/main.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/main.c
@@ -748,9 +748,7 @@ batadv_tvlv_container_get(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv, u8 type, u8 version)
 		if (tvlv_tmp->tvlv_hdr.version != version)
 			continue;
 
-		if (!kref_get_unless_zero(&tvlv_tmp->refcount))
-			continue;
-
+		kref_get(&tvlv_tmp->refcount);
 		tvlv = tvlv_tmp;
 		break;
 	}