diff --git a/fs/nfsd/nfs4callback.c b/fs/nfsd/nfs4callback.c
index 874a56a0801..a4686326b5a 100644
--- a/fs/nfsd/nfs4callback.c
+++ b/fs/nfsd/nfs4callback.c
@@ -761,8 +761,10 @@ static void _nfsd4_cb_recall(struct nfs4_delegation *dp)
 		.rpc_cred = callback_cred
 	};
 
-	if (clnt == NULL)
+	if (clnt == NULL) {
+		nfs4_put_delegation(dp);
 		return; /* Client is shutting down; give up. */
+	}
 
 	args->args_op = dp;
 	msg.rpc_argp = args;