diff --git a/net/batman-adv/originator.c b/net/batman-adv/originator.c
index fe2fcda4a984..ab8c4f9738fe 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/originator.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/originator.c
@@ -766,6 +766,7 @@ static void batadv_orig_node_release(struct kref *ref)
 	struct batadv_orig_node *orig_node;
 	struct batadv_orig_ifinfo *orig_ifinfo;
 	struct batadv_orig_node_vlan *vlan;
+	struct batadv_orig_ifinfo *last_candidate;
 
 	orig_node = container_of(ref, struct batadv_orig_node, refcount);
 
@@ -783,8 +784,14 @@ static void batadv_orig_node_release(struct kref *ref)
 		hlist_del_rcu(&orig_ifinfo->list);
 		batadv_orig_ifinfo_put(orig_ifinfo);
 	}
+
+	last_candidate = orig_node->last_bonding_candidate;
+	orig_node->last_bonding_candidate = NULL;
 	spin_unlock_bh(&orig_node->neigh_list_lock);
 
+	if (last_candidate)
+		batadv_orig_ifinfo_put(last_candidate);
+
 	spin_lock_bh(&orig_node->vlan_list_lock);
 	hlist_for_each_entry_safe(vlan, node_tmp, &orig_node->vlan_list, list) {
 		hlist_del_rcu(&vlan->list);