diff --git a/net/l2tp/l2tp_core.c b/net/l2tp/l2tp_core.c
index 95805a6331be..421b2c89ce12 100644
--- a/net/l2tp/l2tp_core.c
+++ b/net/l2tp/l2tp_core.c
@@ -886,8 +886,10 @@ static int l2tp_udp_recv_core(struct l2tp_tunnel *tunnel, struct sk_buff *skb)
 	}
 
 	if (tunnel->version == L2TP_HDR_VER_3 &&
-	    l2tp_v3_ensure_opt_in_linear(session, skb, &ptr, &optr))
+	    l2tp_v3_ensure_opt_in_linear(session, skb, &ptr, &optr)) {
+		l2tp_session_dec_refcount(session);
 		goto error;
+	}
 
 	l2tp_recv_common(session, skb, ptr, optr, hdrflags, length);
 	l2tp_session_dec_refcount(session);