diff --git a/net/decnet/dn_fib.c b/net/decnet/dn_fib.c
index 387a7e81dd00..153a5fc1bdde 100644
--- a/net/decnet/dn_fib.c
+++ b/net/decnet/dn_fib.c
@@ -389,7 +389,7 @@ struct dn_fib_info *dn_fib_create_info(const struct rtmsg *r, struct nlattr *att
 		return ofi;
 	}
 
-	refcount_inc(&fi->fib_treeref);
+	refcount_set(&fi->fib_treeref, 1);
 	refcount_set(&fi->fib_clntref, 1);
 	spin_lock(&dn_fib_info_lock);
 	fi->fib_next = dn_fib_info_list;