diff --git a/net/batman-adv/originator.c b/net/batman-adv/originator.c
index ffd9dfbd9b0e856e35e2ac6ea594739e8feb614d..a43da69185124b87405d4b4818d480f57d71f02a 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/originator.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/originator.c
@@ -501,12 +501,17 @@ batadv_neigh_node_get(const struct batadv_orig_node *orig_node,
 static void batadv_orig_ifinfo_free_rcu(struct rcu_head *rcu)
 {
 	struct batadv_orig_ifinfo *orig_ifinfo;
+	struct batadv_neigh_node *router;
 
 	orig_ifinfo = container_of(rcu, struct batadv_orig_ifinfo, rcu);
 
 	if (orig_ifinfo->if_outgoing != BATADV_IF_DEFAULT)
 		batadv_hardif_free_ref_now(orig_ifinfo->if_outgoing);
 
+	/* this is the last reference to this object */
+	router = rcu_dereference_protected(orig_ifinfo->router, true);
+	if (router)
+		batadv_neigh_node_free_ref_now(router);
 	kfree(orig_ifinfo);
 }