diff --git a/kernel/module.c b/kernel/module.c
index 33c04ad51175..db0ead0363e2 100644
--- a/kernel/module.c
+++ b/kernel/module.c
@@ -784,8 +784,7 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(symbol_put_addr);
 static ssize_t show_refcnt(struct module_attribute *mattr,
 			   struct module *mod, char *buffer)
 {
-	/* sysfs holds a reference */
-	return sprintf(buffer, "%u\n", module_refcount(mod)-1);
+	return sprintf(buffer, "%u\n", module_refcount(mod));
 }
 
 static struct module_attribute refcnt = {