diff --git a/fs/ceph/caps.c b/fs/ceph/caps.c
index 2a5404c1c42f..591202bc9668 100644
--- a/fs/ceph/caps.c
+++ b/fs/ceph/caps.c
@@ -569,7 +569,8 @@ int ceph_add_cap(struct inode *inode,
 		list_add_tail(&cap->session_caps, &session->s_caps);
 		session->s_nr_caps++;
 		spin_unlock(&session->s_cap_lock);
-	}
+	} else if (new_cap)
+		ceph_put_cap(mdsc, new_cap);
 
 	if (!ci->i_snap_realm) {
 		/*