diff --git a/drivers/xen/gntdev-dmabuf.c b/drivers/xen/gntdev-dmabuf.c
index 83b0df460894..df1883aca850 100644
--- a/drivers/xen/gntdev-dmabuf.c
+++ b/drivers/xen/gntdev-dmabuf.c
@@ -96,8 +96,10 @@ dmabuf_exp_wait_obj_new(struct gntdev_dmabuf_priv *priv,
 	struct gntdev_dmabuf_wait_obj *obj;
 
 	obj = kzalloc_obj(*obj);
-	if (!obj)
+	if (!obj) {
+		kref_put(&gntdev_dmabuf->u.exp.refcount, dmabuf_exp_release);
 		return ERR_PTR(-ENOMEM);
+	}
 
 	init_completion(&obj->completion);
 	obj->gntdev_dmabuf = gntdev_dmabuf;