diff --git a/block/bfq-iosched.c b/block/bfq-iosched.c
index 7bd789da7a29..7c0b7f60811c 100644
--- a/block/bfq-iosched.c
+++ b/block/bfq-iosched.c
@@ -4893,6 +4893,9 @@ static void bfq_exit_queue(struct elevator_queue *e)
 
 	hrtimer_cancel(&bfqd->idle_slice_timer);
 
+	/* release oom-queue reference to root group */
+	bfqg_and_blkg_put(bfqd->root_group);
+
 #ifdef CONFIG_BFQ_GROUP_IOSCHED
 	blkcg_deactivate_policy(bfqd->queue, &blkcg_policy_bfq);
 #else