diff --git a/net/batman-adv/hard-interface.c b/net/batman-adv/hard-interface.c
index 9b8108d464db..6fc49ad47fd8 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/hard-interface.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/hard-interface.c
@@ -835,14 +835,14 @@ int batadv_hardif_enable_interface(struct net_device *net_dev,
 void batadv_hardif_disable_interface(struct batadv_hard_iface *hard_iface)
 {
 	struct batadv_priv *bat_priv = netdev_priv(hard_iface->mesh_iface);
-	struct batadv_hard_iface *primary_if = NULL;
+	struct batadv_hard_iface *primary_if;
 
 	ASSERT_RTNL();
 
 	batadv_hardif_deactivate_interface(hard_iface);
 
 	if (hard_iface->if_status != BATADV_IF_INACTIVE)
-		goto out;
+		return;
 
 	batadv_info(hard_iface->mesh_iface, "Removing interface: %s\n",
 		    hard_iface->net_dev->name);
@@ -857,6 +857,7 @@ void batadv_hardif_disable_interface(struct batadv_hard_iface *hard_iface)
 
 		batadv_hardif_put(new_if);
 	}
+	batadv_hardif_put(primary_if);
 
 	bat_priv->algo_ops->iface.disable(hard_iface);
 	hard_iface->if_status = BATADV_IF_TO_BE_REMOVED;
@@ -874,9 +875,6 @@ void batadv_hardif_disable_interface(struct batadv_hard_iface *hard_iface)
 		batadv_gw_check_client_stop(bat_priv);
 
 	batadv_hardif_put(hard_iface);
-
-out:
-	batadv_hardif_put(primary_if);
 }
 
 /**