diff --git a/fs/smb/client/file.c b/fs/smb/client/file.c
index d7b0a9512dfa..27b58d907203 100644
--- a/fs/smb/client/file.c
+++ b/fs/smb/client/file.c
@@ -3348,8 +3348,11 @@ void cifs_oplock_break(struct work_struct *work)
 			TASK_UNINTERRUPTIBLE);
 
 	tlink = cifs_sb_tlink(cifs_sb);
-	if (IS_ERR(tlink))
+	if (IS_ERR(tlink)) {
+		/* drop the reference taken when the break was queued */
+		_cifsFileInfo_put(cfile, false /* do not wait for ourself */, false);
 		goto out;
+	}
 	tcon = tlink_tcon(tlink);
 	server = tcon->ses->server;