diff --git a/fs/configfs/symlink.c b/fs/configfs/symlink.c
index faeb4417a10d..0004d18c40ac 100644
--- a/fs/configfs/symlink.c
+++ b/fs/configfs/symlink.c
@@ -140,8 +140,12 @@ int configfs_symlink(struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry, const char *symna
 		goto out_put;
 
 	ret = type->ct_item_ops->allow_link(parent_item, target_item);
-	if (!ret)
+	if (!ret) {
 		ret = create_link(parent_item, target_item, dentry);
+		if (ret && type->ct_item_ops->drop_link)
+			type->ct_item_ops->drop_link(parent_item,
+						     target_item);
+	}
 
 	config_item_put(target_item);
 	path_put(&nd.path);