diff --git a/net/smc/af_smc.c b/net/smc/af_smc.c
index e8018b0fb767..bdeaee727538 100644
--- a/net/smc/af_smc.c
+++ b/net/smc/af_smc.c
@@ -3257,6 +3257,17 @@ static int __smc_create(struct net *net, struct socket *sock, int protocol,
 			sk_common_release(sk);
 			goto out;
 		}
+
+		/* smc_clcsock_release() does not wait smc->clcsock->sk's
+		 * destruction;  its sk_state might not be TCP_CLOSE after
+		 * smc->sk is close()d, and TCP timers can be fired later,
+		 * which need net ref.
+		 */
+		sk = smc->clcsock->sk;
+		__netns_tracker_free(net, &sk->ns_tracker, false);
+		sk->sk_net_refcnt = 1;
+		get_net_track(net, &sk->ns_tracker, GFP_KERNEL);
+		sock_inuse_add(net, 1);
 	} else {
 		smc->clcsock = clcsock;
 	}