diff --git a/net/ipv6/xfrm6_protocol.c b/net/ipv6/xfrm6_protocol.c
index ea2f805d3b01..9b586fcec485 100644
--- a/net/ipv6/xfrm6_protocol.c
+++ b/net/ipv6/xfrm6_protocol.c
@@ -88,8 +88,10 @@ int xfrm6_rcv_encap(struct sk_buff *skb, int nexthdr, __be32 spi,
 
 		dst = ip6_route_input_lookup(dev_net(skb->dev), skb->dev, &fl6,
 					     skb, flags);
-		if (dst->error)
+		if (dst->error) {
+			dst_release(dst);
 			goto drop;
+		}
 		skb_dst_set(skb, dst);
 	}