diff --git a/net/rds/send.c b/net/rds/send.c
index 6a567c97a999..309021e0cc9b 100644
--- a/net/rds/send.c
+++ b/net/rds/send.c
@@ -339,9 +339,21 @@ int rds_send_xmit(struct rds_conn_path *cp)
 			    (rm->rdma.op_active &&
 			    test_bit(RDS_MSG_RETRANSMITTED, &rm->m_flags))) {
 				spin_lock_irqsave(&cp->cp_lock, flags);
-				if (test_and_clear_bit(RDS_MSG_ON_CONN, &rm->m_flags))
-					list_move(&rm->m_conn_item, &to_be_dropped);
-				spin_unlock_irqrestore(&cp->cp_lock, flags);
+				if (test_and_clear_bit(RDS_MSG_ON_CONN,
+						       &rm->m_flags)) {
+					/* our ref is put after the batch */
+					list_move(&rm->m_conn_item,
+						  &to_be_dropped);
+					spin_unlock_irqrestore(&cp->cp_lock,
+							       flags);
+				} else {
+					/* already off the conn list; drop
+					 * the ref taken above ourselves
+					 */
+					spin_unlock_irqrestore(&cp->cp_lock,
+							       flags);
+					rds_message_put(rm);
+				}
 				continue;
 			}