diff --git a/kernel/audit_tree.c b/kernel/audit_tree.c
index e49c912f862d..9dec6314cd28 100644
--- a/kernel/audit_tree.c
+++ b/kernel/audit_tree.c
@@ -595,7 +595,6 @@ static void prune_tree_chunks(struct audit_tree *victim, bool tagged)
 		spin_lock(&hash_lock);
 	}
 	spin_unlock(&hash_lock);
-	put_tree(victim);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -604,6 +603,7 @@ static void prune_tree_chunks(struct audit_tree *victim, bool tagged)
 static void prune_one(struct audit_tree *victim)
 {
 	prune_tree_chunks(victim, false);
+	put_tree(victim);
 }
 
 /* trim the uncommitted chunks from tree */