diff --git a/net/smc/smc_close.c b/net/smc/smc_close.c
index 449ef454b53b..10219f55aad1 100644
--- a/net/smc/smc_close.c
+++ b/net/smc/smc_close.c
@@ -116,7 +116,8 @@ static void smc_close_cancel_work(struct smc_sock *smc)
 	struct sock *sk = &smc->sk;
 
 	release_sock(sk);
-	cancel_work_sync(&smc->conn.close_work);
+	if (cancel_work_sync(&smc->conn.close_work))
+		sock_put(sk);
 	cancel_delayed_work_sync(&smc->conn.tx_work);
 	lock_sock(sk);
 }