diff --git a/net/xfrm/xfrm_policy.c b/net/xfrm/xfrm_policy.c
index c5035a9bc3bb..7111184eef59 100644
--- a/net/xfrm/xfrm_policy.c
+++ b/net/xfrm/xfrm_policy.c
@@ -3881,12 +3881,18 @@ int __xfrm_route_forward(struct sk_buff *skb, unsigned short family)
 	}
 
 	skb_dst_force(skb);
-	if (!skb_dst(skb)) {
+	dst = skb_dst(skb);
+	if (!dst) {
 		XFRM_INC_STATS(net, LINUX_MIB_XFRMFWDHDRERROR);
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-	dst = xfrm_lookup(net, skb_dst(skb), &fl, NULL, XFRM_LOOKUP_QUEUE);
+	/* ignore return value from skb_dstref_steal, xfrm_lookup takes
+	 * care of dropping the refcnt if needed.
+	 */
+	skb_dstref_steal(skb);
+
+	dst = xfrm_lookup(net, dst, &fl, NULL, XFRM_LOOKUP_QUEUE);
 	if (IS_ERR(dst)) {
 		res = 0;
 		dst = NULL;