diff --git a/drivers/nvme/target/pci-epf.c b/drivers/nvme/target/pci-epf.c
index 4e9db96ebfec..794e88d1d9a5 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/target/pci-epf.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/target/pci-epf.c
@@ -1339,6 +1339,7 @@ static u16 nvmet_pci_epf_create_cq(struct nvmet_ctrl *tctrl,
 	nvmet_pci_epf_mem_unmap(ctrl->nvme_epf, &cq->pci_map);
 err_internal:
 	status = NVME_SC_INTERNAL | NVME_STATUS_DNR;
+	nvmet_cq_put(&cq->nvme_cq);
 err:
 	if (test_and_clear_bit(NVMET_PCI_EPF_Q_IRQ_ENABLED, &cq->flags))
 		nvmet_pci_epf_remove_irq_vector(ctrl, cq->vector);