diff --git a/net/netfilter/nft_ct.c b/net/netfilter/nft_ct.c
index 60ee8d932fcb..fa2cc556331c 100644
--- a/net/netfilter/nft_ct.c
+++ b/net/netfilter/nft_ct.c
@@ -1334,6 +1334,8 @@ static void nft_ct_expect_obj_eval(struct nft_object *obj,
 
 	if (nf_ct_expect_related(exp, 0) != 0)
 		regs->verdict.code = NF_DROP;
+
+	nf_ct_expect_put(exp);
 }
 
 static const struct nla_policy nft_ct_expect_policy[NFTA_CT_EXPECT_MAX + 1] = {