diff --git a/net/ipv4/ip_vti.c b/net/ipv4/ip_vti.c
index 5d9c845d288a..52b802a0cd8c 100644
--- a/net/ipv4/ip_vti.c
+++ b/net/ipv4/ip_vti.c
@@ -126,6 +126,7 @@ static netdev_tx_t vti_tunnel_xmit(struct sk_buff *skb, struct net_device *dev)
 	if (!rt->dst.xfrm ||
 	    rt->dst.xfrm->props.mode != XFRM_MODE_TUNNEL) {
 		dev->stats.tx_carrier_errors++;
+		ip_rt_put(rt);
 		goto tx_error_icmp;
 	}
 	tdev = rt->dst.dev;