diff --git a/net/core/rtnetlink.c b/net/core/rtnetlink.c
index 1f4d4b5570ab..d1e559fce918 100644
--- a/net/core/rtnetlink.c
+++ b/net/core/rtnetlink.c
@@ -3432,6 +3432,7 @@ static int rtnl_setlink(struct sk_buff *skb, struct nlmsghdr *nlh,
 		err = -ENODEV;
 
 	rtnl_nets_unlock(&rtnl_nets);
+	rtnl_nets_destroy(&rtnl_nets);
 errout:
 	return err;
 }