diff --git a/fs/nfsd/nfs4state.c b/fs/nfsd/nfs4state.c
index 198d7abf34e4..4f4706f7139b 100644
--- a/fs/nfsd/nfs4state.c
+++ b/fs/nfsd/nfs4state.c
@@ -5382,6 +5382,7 @@ nfsd4_verify_deleg_dentry(struct nfsd4_open *open, struct nfs4_file *fp,
 	if (err)
 		return -EAGAIN;
 
+	exp_put(exp);
 	dput(child);
 	if (child != file_dentry(fp->fi_deleg_file->nf_file))
 		return -EAGAIN;