diff --git a/net/mctp/route.c b/net/mctp/route.c
index 7a47a58aa54b..6218dcd07e18 100644
--- a/net/mctp/route.c
+++ b/net/mctp/route.c
@@ -663,7 +663,7 @@ struct mctp_sk_key *mctp_alloc_local_tag(struct mctp_sock *msk,
 	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&mns->keys_lock, flags);
 
 	if (!tagbits) {
-		kfree(key);
+		mctp_key_unref(key);
 		return ERR_PTR(-EBUSY);
 	}