diff --git a/fs/smb/client/sess.c b/fs/smb/client/sess.c
index de2012cc9cf3..7cf7dd104f7c 100644
--- a/fs/smb/client/sess.c
+++ b/fs/smb/client/sess.c
@@ -233,9 +233,9 @@ int cifs_try_adding_channels(struct cifs_ses *ses)
 				cifs_dbg(VFS, "failed to open extra channel on iface:%pIS rc=%d\n",
 					 &iface->sockaddr,
 					 rc);
-				kref_put(&iface->refcount, release_iface);
 				/* failure to add chan should increase weight */
 				iface->weight_fulfilled++;
+				kref_put(&iface->refcount, release_iface);
 				continue;
 			}