diff --git a/drivers/net/ppp/pppoe.c b/drivers/net/ppp/pppoe.c
index cbf7047decc..20f31d0d153 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ppp/pppoe.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ppp/pppoe.c
@@ -570,7 +570,7 @@ static int pppoe_release(struct socket *sock)
 
 	po = pppox_sk(sk);
 
-	if (sk->sk_state & (PPPOX_CONNECTED | PPPOX_BOUND)) {
+	if (sk->sk_state & (PPPOX_CONNECTED | PPPOX_BOUND | PPPOX_ZOMBIE)) {
 		dev_put(po->pppoe_dev);
 		po->pppoe_dev = NULL;
 	}