diff --git a/net/batman-adv/bridge_loop_avoidance.c b/net/batman-adv/bridge_loop_avoidance.c
index 94e074235e15..a3530cc90c95 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/bridge_loop_avoidance.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/bridge_loop_avoidance.c
@@ -695,12 +695,14 @@ static void batadv_bla_add_claim(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
 	struct batadv_bla_backbone_gw *old_backbone_gw;
 	struct batadv_bla_claim search_claim;
 	struct batadv_bla_claim *claim;
-	bool remove_crc = false;
 	int hash_added;
+	u16 claim_crc;
+	bool changed;
 
 	ether_addr_copy(search_claim.addr, mac);
 	search_claim.vid = vid;
 	claim = batadv_claim_hash_find(bat_priv, &search_claim);
+	claim_crc = crc16(0, mac, ETH_ALEN);
 
 	/* create a new claim entry if it does not exist yet. */
 	if (!claim) {
@@ -732,43 +734,56 @@ static void batadv_bla_add_claim(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
 			kfree(claim);
 			return;
 		}
-	} else {
-		WRITE_ONCE(claim->lasttime, jiffies);
-		if (claim->backbone_gw == backbone_gw)
-			/* no need to register a new backbone */
-			goto claim_free_ref;
 
+		spin_lock_bh(&backbone_gw->crc_lock);
+		backbone_gw->crc ^= claim_crc;
+		spin_unlock_bh(&backbone_gw->crc_lock);
+
+		WRITE_ONCE(backbone_gw->lasttime, jiffies);
+
+		batadv_claim_put(claim);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	WRITE_ONCE(claim->lasttime, jiffies);
+
+	/* replace backbone_gw atomically and adjust reference counters */
+	spin_lock_bh(&claim->backbone_lock);
+	if (claim->backbone_gw != backbone_gw) {
+		changed = true;
+
+		old_backbone_gw = claim->backbone_gw;
+		kref_get(&backbone_gw->refcount);
+		claim->backbone_gw = backbone_gw;
+	} else {
+		old_backbone_gw = NULL;
+		changed = false;
+	}
+	spin_unlock_bh(&claim->backbone_lock);
+
+	if (changed) {
 		batadv_dbg(BATADV_DBG_BLA, bat_priv,
 			   "%s(): changing ownership for %pM, vid %d to gw %pM\n",
 			   __func__, mac, batadv_print_vid(vid),
 			   backbone_gw->orig);
 
-		remove_crc = true;
+		/* add claim address to new backbone_gw */
+		spin_lock_bh(&backbone_gw->crc_lock);
+		backbone_gw->crc ^= claim_crc;
+		spin_unlock_bh(&backbone_gw->crc_lock);
+
+		WRITE_ONCE(backbone_gw->lasttime, jiffies);
 	}
 
-	/* replace backbone_gw atomically and adjust reference counters */
-	spin_lock_bh(&claim->backbone_lock);
-	old_backbone_gw = claim->backbone_gw;
-	kref_get(&backbone_gw->refcount);
-	claim->backbone_gw = backbone_gw;
-	spin_unlock_bh(&claim->backbone_lock);
-
-	if (remove_crc) {
+	if (old_backbone_gw) {
 		/* remove claim address from old backbone_gw */
 		spin_lock_bh(&old_backbone_gw->crc_lock);
-		old_backbone_gw->crc ^= crc16(0, claim->addr, ETH_ALEN);
+		old_backbone_gw->crc ^= claim_crc;
 		spin_unlock_bh(&old_backbone_gw->crc_lock);
+
+		batadv_backbone_gw_put(old_backbone_gw);
 	}
 
-	batadv_backbone_gw_put(old_backbone_gw);
-
-	/* add claim address to new backbone_gw */
-	spin_lock_bh(&backbone_gw->crc_lock);
-	backbone_gw->crc ^= crc16(0, claim->addr, ETH_ALEN);
-	spin_unlock_bh(&backbone_gw->crc_lock);
-	WRITE_ONCE(backbone_gw->lasttime, jiffies);
-
-claim_free_ref:
 	batadv_claim_put(claim);
 }