diff --git a/fs/nfsd/filecache.c b/fs/nfsd/filecache.c
index 7f100c41022a..19beb4d482be 100644
--- a/fs/nfsd/filecache.c
+++ b/fs/nfsd/filecache.c
@@ -327,8 +327,11 @@ static void nfsd_file_lru_add(struct nfsd_file *nf)
 	refcount_inc(&nf->nf_ref);
 	if (list_lru_add_obj(&nfsd_file_lru, &nf->nf_lru))
 		trace_nfsd_file_lru_add(nf);
-	else
-		WARN_ON(1);
+	else {
+		refcount_dec(&nf->nf_ref);
+		WARN_ON_ONCE(1);
+		return;
+	}
 	nfsd_file_schedule_laundrette();
 }