diff --git a/fs/nfsd/nfssvc.c b/fs/nfsd/nfssvc.c
index 5d026dca00ca..752d56bbe0ba 100644
--- a/fs/nfsd/nfssvc.c
+++ b/fs/nfsd/nfssvc.c
@@ -221,7 +221,8 @@ static int nfsd_startup_generic(int nrservs)
 	 */
 	ret = nfsd_racache_init(2*nrservs);
 	if (ret)
-		return ret;
+		goto dec_users;
+
 	ret = nfs4_state_start();
 	if (ret)
 		goto out_racache;
@@ -229,6 +230,8 @@ static int nfsd_startup_generic(int nrservs)
 
 out_racache:
 	nfsd_racache_shutdown();
+dec_users:
+	nfsd_users--;
 	return ret;
 }