diff --git a/fs/smb/server/transport_tcp.c b/fs/smb/server/transport_tcp.c
index 4bb07937d7ef..2436dabada95 100644
--- a/fs/smb/server/transport_tcp.c
+++ b/fs/smb/server/transport_tcp.c
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ static const struct ksmbd_transport_ops ksmbd_tcp_transport_ops;
 
 static void tcp_stop_kthread(struct task_struct *kthread);
 static struct interface *alloc_iface(char *ifname);
+static void ksmbd_tcp_disconnect(struct ksmbd_transport *t);
 
 #define KSMBD_TRANS(t)	(&(t)->transport)
 #define TCP_TRANS(t)	((struct tcp_transport *)container_of(t, \
@@ -202,7 +203,7 @@ static int ksmbd_tcp_new_connection(struct socket *client_sk)
 	if (IS_ERR(handler)) {
 		pr_err("cannot start conn thread\n");
 		rc = PTR_ERR(handler);
-		free_transport(t);
+		ksmbd_tcp_disconnect(KSMBD_TRANS(t));
 	}
 	return rc;
 }