diff --git a/fs/smb/client/smb1transport.c b/fs/smb/client/smb1transport.c
index 66daa5a37e4a..42e95cc1bd89 100644
--- a/fs/smb/client/smb1transport.c
+++ b/fs/smb/client/smb1transport.c
@@ -449,10 +449,18 @@ bool
 cifs_check_trans2(struct mid_q_entry *mid, struct TCP_Server_Info *server,
 		  char *buf, int malformed)
 {
-	if (malformed)
-		return false;
-	if (check2ndT2(buf) <= 0)
+	if (malformed || check2ndT2(buf) <= 0) {
+		/* mid->multiRsp blocks the server buf detach in handle_mid();
+		 * returning false here would leak resp_buf and leave a dangling
+		 * server->smallbuf/bigbuf after the user thread frees resp_buf.
+		 */
+		if (mid->multiRsp) {
+			mid->multiEnd = true;
+			dequeue_mid(server, mid, true);
+			return true;
+		}
 		return false;
+	}
 	mid->multiRsp = true;
 	if (mid->resp_buf) {
 		/* merge response - fix up 1st*/