diff --git a/net/core/rtnetlink.c b/net/core/rtnetlink.c
index b9b7dfaf202b..76321ea442c3 100644
--- a/net/core/rtnetlink.c
+++ b/net/core/rtnetlink.c
@@ -1498,6 +1498,7 @@ static int do_setlink(const struct sk_buff *skb,
 			goto errout;
 		}
 		if (!netlink_ns_capable(skb, net->user_ns, CAP_NET_ADMIN)) {
+			put_net(net);
 			err = -EPERM;
 			goto errout;
 		}