diff --git a/fs/cachefiles/namei.c b/fs/cachefiles/namei.c
index e5ec90dccc27..eb9eb7683e3c 100644
--- a/fs/cachefiles/namei.c
+++ b/fs/cachefiles/namei.c
@@ -810,6 +810,11 @@ int cachefiles_cull(struct cachefiles_cache *cache, struct dentry *dir,
 	if (ret < 0)
 		goto error_unlock;
 
+	/*
+	 * cachefiles_bury_object() expects 2 references to 'victim',
+	 * and drops one.
+	 */
+	dget(victim);
 	ret = cachefiles_bury_object(cache, NULL, dir, victim,
 				     FSCACHE_OBJECT_WAS_CULLED);
 	dput(victim);