diff --git a/net/sched/act_skbedit.c b/net/sched/act_skbedit.c
index ddf69fc01bdf..6138d1d71900 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_skbedit.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_skbedit.c
@@ -121,7 +121,8 @@ static int tcf_skbedit_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 		return 0;
 
 	if (!flags) {
-		tcf_idr_release(*a, bind);
+		if (exists)
+			tcf_idr_release(*a, bind);
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}