diff --git a/net/batman-adv/bridge_loop_avoidance.c b/net/batman-adv/bridge_loop_avoidance.c
index ee9cead765450..986f707e7d973 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/bridge_loop_avoidance.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/bridge_loop_avoidance.c
@@ -164,6 +164,9 @@ static void batadv_backbone_gw_release(struct kref *ref)
  */
 static void batadv_backbone_gw_put(struct batadv_bla_backbone_gw *backbone_gw)
 {
+	if (!backbone_gw)
+		return;
+
 	kref_put(&backbone_gw->refcount, batadv_backbone_gw_release);
 }
 
@@ -199,6 +202,9 @@ static void batadv_claim_release(struct kref *ref)
  */
 static void batadv_claim_put(struct batadv_bla_claim *claim)
 {
+	if (!claim)
+		return;
+
 	kref_put(&claim->refcount, batadv_claim_release);
 }
 
diff --git a/net/batman-adv/distributed-arp-table.c b/net/batman-adv/distributed-arp-table.c
index 0e6e53e9b5f35..338e4e9c33b8a 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/distributed-arp-table.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/distributed-arp-table.c
@@ -128,6 +128,9 @@ static void batadv_dat_entry_release(struct kref *ref)
  */
 static void batadv_dat_entry_put(struct batadv_dat_entry *dat_entry)
 {
+	if (!dat_entry)
+		return;
+
 	kref_put(&dat_entry->refcount, batadv_dat_entry_release);
 }
 
diff --git a/net/batman-adv/gateway_client.c b/net/batman-adv/gateway_client.c
index ef3f85b576c4c..62f6f13f89ffd 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/gateway_client.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/gateway_client.c
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@
  *  after rcu grace period
  * @ref: kref pointer of the gw_node
  */
-static void batadv_gw_node_release(struct kref *ref)
+void batadv_gw_node_release(struct kref *ref)
 {
 	struct batadv_gw_node *gw_node;
 
@@ -70,16 +70,6 @@ static void batadv_gw_node_release(struct kref *ref)
 	kfree_rcu(gw_node, rcu);
 }
 
-/**
- * batadv_gw_node_put() - decrement the gw_node refcounter and possibly release
- *  it
- * @gw_node: gateway node to free
- */
-void batadv_gw_node_put(struct batadv_gw_node *gw_node)
-{
-	kref_put(&gw_node->refcount, batadv_gw_node_release);
-}
-
 /**
  * batadv_gw_get_selected_gw_node() - Get currently selected gateway
  * @bat_priv: the bat priv with all the soft interface information
diff --git a/net/batman-adv/gateway_client.h b/net/batman-adv/gateway_client.h
index 88b5dba843547..c5b1de586fde0 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/gateway_client.h
+++ b/net/batman-adv/gateway_client.h
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 
 #include "main.h"
 
+#include <linux/kref.h>
 #include <linux/netlink.h>
 #include <linux/seq_file.h>
 #include <linux/skbuff.h>
@@ -28,7 +29,7 @@ void batadv_gw_node_update(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
 void batadv_gw_node_delete(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
 			   struct batadv_orig_node *orig_node);
 void batadv_gw_node_free(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv);
-void batadv_gw_node_put(struct batadv_gw_node *gw_node);
+void batadv_gw_node_release(struct kref *ref);
 struct batadv_gw_node *
 batadv_gw_get_selected_gw_node(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv);
 int batadv_gw_client_seq_print_text(struct seq_file *seq, void *offset);
@@ -40,4 +41,17 @@ batadv_gw_dhcp_recipient_get(struct sk_buff *skb, unsigned int *header_len,
 struct batadv_gw_node *batadv_gw_node_get(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
 					  struct batadv_orig_node *orig_node);
 
+/**
+ * batadv_gw_node_put() - decrement the gw_node refcounter and possibly release
+ *  it
+ * @gw_node: gateway node to free
+ */
+static inline void batadv_gw_node_put(struct batadv_gw_node *gw_node)
+{
+	if (!gw_node)
+		return;
+
+	kref_put(&gw_node->refcount, batadv_gw_node_release);
+}
+
 #endif /* _NET_BATMAN_ADV_GATEWAY_CLIENT_H_ */
diff --git a/net/batman-adv/hard-interface.h b/net/batman-adv/hard-interface.h
index b1855d9d0b062..ba5850cfb2774 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/hard-interface.h
+++ b/net/batman-adv/hard-interface.h
@@ -113,6 +113,9 @@ int batadv_hardif_no_broadcast(struct batadv_hard_iface *if_outgoing,
  */
 static inline void batadv_hardif_put(struct batadv_hard_iface *hard_iface)
 {
+	if (!hard_iface)
+		return;
+
 	kref_put(&hard_iface->refcount, batadv_hardif_release);
 }
 
diff --git a/net/batman-adv/network-coding.c b/net/batman-adv/network-coding.c
index 35b3e03c07774..1481b80395689 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/network-coding.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/network-coding.c
@@ -222,6 +222,9 @@ static void batadv_nc_node_release(struct kref *ref)
  */
 static void batadv_nc_node_put(struct batadv_nc_node *nc_node)
 {
+	if (!nc_node)
+		return;
+
 	kref_put(&nc_node->refcount, batadv_nc_node_release);
 }
 
@@ -246,6 +249,9 @@ static void batadv_nc_path_release(struct kref *ref)
  */
 static void batadv_nc_path_put(struct batadv_nc_path *nc_path)
 {
+	if (!nc_path)
+		return;
+
 	kref_put(&nc_path->refcount, batadv_nc_path_release);
 }
 
diff --git a/net/batman-adv/originator.c b/net/batman-adv/originator.c
index 805d8969bdfbc..2d38a09459bb5 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/originator.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/originator.c
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ batadv_orig_node_vlan_new(struct batadv_orig_node *orig_node,
  *  and queue for free after rcu grace period
  * @ref: kref pointer of the originator-vlan object
  */
-static void batadv_orig_node_vlan_release(struct kref *ref)
+void batadv_orig_node_vlan_release(struct kref *ref)
 {
 	struct batadv_orig_node_vlan *orig_vlan;
 
@@ -187,16 +187,6 @@ static void batadv_orig_node_vlan_release(struct kref *ref)
 	kfree_rcu(orig_vlan, rcu);
 }
 
-/**
- * batadv_orig_node_vlan_put() - decrement the refcounter and possibly release
- *  the originator-vlan object
- * @orig_vlan: the originator-vlan object to release
- */
-void batadv_orig_node_vlan_put(struct batadv_orig_node_vlan *orig_vlan)
-{
-	kref_put(&orig_vlan->refcount, batadv_orig_node_vlan_release);
-}
-
 /**
  * batadv_originator_init() - Initialize all originator structures
  * @bat_priv: the bat priv with all the soft interface information
@@ -232,7 +222,7 @@ int batadv_originator_init(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv)
  *  free after rcu grace period
  * @ref: kref pointer of the neigh_ifinfo
  */
-static void batadv_neigh_ifinfo_release(struct kref *ref)
+void batadv_neigh_ifinfo_release(struct kref *ref)
 {
 	struct batadv_neigh_ifinfo *neigh_ifinfo;
 
@@ -244,22 +234,12 @@ static void batadv_neigh_ifinfo_release(struct kref *ref)
 	kfree_rcu(neigh_ifinfo, rcu);
 }
 
-/**
- * batadv_neigh_ifinfo_put() - decrement the refcounter and possibly release
- *  the neigh_ifinfo
- * @neigh_ifinfo: the neigh_ifinfo object to release
- */
-void batadv_neigh_ifinfo_put(struct batadv_neigh_ifinfo *neigh_ifinfo)
-{
-	kref_put(&neigh_ifinfo->refcount, batadv_neigh_ifinfo_release);
-}
-
 /**
  * batadv_hardif_neigh_release() - release hardif neigh node from lists and
  *  queue for free after rcu grace period
  * @ref: kref pointer of the neigh_node
  */
-static void batadv_hardif_neigh_release(struct kref *ref)
+void batadv_hardif_neigh_release(struct kref *ref)
 {
 	struct batadv_hardif_neigh_node *hardif_neigh;
 
@@ -274,22 +254,12 @@ static void batadv_hardif_neigh_release(struct kref *ref)
 	kfree_rcu(hardif_neigh, rcu);
 }
 
-/**
- * batadv_hardif_neigh_put() - decrement the hardif neighbors refcounter
- *  and possibly release it
- * @hardif_neigh: hardif neigh neighbor to free
- */
-void batadv_hardif_neigh_put(struct batadv_hardif_neigh_node *hardif_neigh)
-{
-	kref_put(&hardif_neigh->refcount, batadv_hardif_neigh_release);
-}
-
 /**
  * batadv_neigh_node_release() - release neigh_node from lists and queue for
  *  free after rcu grace period
  * @ref: kref pointer of the neigh_node
  */
-static void batadv_neigh_node_release(struct kref *ref)
+void batadv_neigh_node_release(struct kref *ref)
 {
 	struct hlist_node *node_tmp;
 	struct batadv_neigh_node *neigh_node;
@@ -309,16 +279,6 @@ static void batadv_neigh_node_release(struct kref *ref)
 	kfree_rcu(neigh_node, rcu);
 }
 
-/**
- * batadv_neigh_node_put() - decrement the neighbors refcounter and possibly
- *  release it
- * @neigh_node: neigh neighbor to free
- */
-void batadv_neigh_node_put(struct batadv_neigh_node *neigh_node)
-{
-	kref_put(&neigh_node->refcount, batadv_neigh_node_release);
-}
-
 /**
  * batadv_orig_router_get() - router to the originator depending on iface
  * @orig_node: the orig node for the router
@@ -851,7 +811,7 @@ int batadv_hardif_neigh_dump(struct sk_buff *msg, struct netlink_callback *cb)
  *  free after rcu grace period
  * @ref: kref pointer of the orig_ifinfo
  */
-static void batadv_orig_ifinfo_release(struct kref *ref)
+void batadv_orig_ifinfo_release(struct kref *ref)
 {
 	struct batadv_orig_ifinfo *orig_ifinfo;
 	struct batadv_neigh_node *router;
@@ -869,16 +829,6 @@ static void batadv_orig_ifinfo_release(struct kref *ref)
 	kfree_rcu(orig_ifinfo, rcu);
 }
 
-/**
- * batadv_orig_ifinfo_put() - decrement the refcounter and possibly release
- *  the orig_ifinfo
- * @orig_ifinfo: the orig_ifinfo object to release
- */
-void batadv_orig_ifinfo_put(struct batadv_orig_ifinfo *orig_ifinfo)
-{
-	kref_put(&orig_ifinfo->refcount, batadv_orig_ifinfo_release);
-}
-
 /**
  * batadv_orig_node_free_rcu() - free the orig_node
  * @rcu: rcu pointer of the orig_node
@@ -902,7 +852,7 @@ static void batadv_orig_node_free_rcu(struct rcu_head *rcu)
  *  free after rcu grace period
  * @ref: kref pointer of the orig_node
  */
-static void batadv_orig_node_release(struct kref *ref)
+void batadv_orig_node_release(struct kref *ref)
 {
 	struct hlist_node *node_tmp;
 	struct batadv_neigh_node *neigh_node;
@@ -948,16 +898,6 @@ static void batadv_orig_node_release(struct kref *ref)
 	call_rcu(&orig_node->rcu, batadv_orig_node_free_rcu);
 }
 
-/**
- * batadv_orig_node_put() - decrement the orig node refcounter and possibly
- *  release it
- * @orig_node: the orig node to free
- */
-void batadv_orig_node_put(struct batadv_orig_node *orig_node)
-{
-	kref_put(&orig_node->refcount, batadv_orig_node_release);
-}
-
 /**
  * batadv_originator_free() - Free all originator structures
  * @bat_priv: the bat priv with all the soft interface information
diff --git a/net/batman-adv/originator.h b/net/batman-adv/originator.h
index 7bc01c138b3ab..3b824a79743a2 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/originator.h
+++ b/net/batman-adv/originator.h
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include <linux/compiler.h>
 #include <linux/if_ether.h>
 #include <linux/jhash.h>
+#include <linux/kref.h>
 #include <linux/netlink.h>
 #include <linux/seq_file.h>
 #include <linux/skbuff.h>
@@ -21,19 +22,18 @@ bool batadv_compare_orig(const struct hlist_node *node, const void *data2);
 int batadv_originator_init(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv);
 void batadv_originator_free(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv);
 void batadv_purge_orig_ref(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv);
-void batadv_orig_node_put(struct batadv_orig_node *orig_node);
+void batadv_orig_node_release(struct kref *ref);
 struct batadv_orig_node *batadv_orig_node_new(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
 					      const u8 *addr);
 struct batadv_hardif_neigh_node *
 batadv_hardif_neigh_get(const struct batadv_hard_iface *hard_iface,
 			const u8 *neigh_addr);
-void
-batadv_hardif_neigh_put(struct batadv_hardif_neigh_node *hardif_neigh);
+void batadv_hardif_neigh_release(struct kref *ref);
 struct batadv_neigh_node *
 batadv_neigh_node_get_or_create(struct batadv_orig_node *orig_node,
 				struct batadv_hard_iface *hard_iface,
 				const u8 *neigh_addr);
-void batadv_neigh_node_put(struct batadv_neigh_node *neigh_node);
+void batadv_neigh_node_release(struct kref *ref);
 struct batadv_neigh_node *
 batadv_orig_router_get(struct batadv_orig_node *orig_node,
 		       const struct batadv_hard_iface *if_outgoing);
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ batadv_neigh_ifinfo_new(struct batadv_neigh_node *neigh,
 struct batadv_neigh_ifinfo *
 batadv_neigh_ifinfo_get(struct batadv_neigh_node *neigh,
 			struct batadv_hard_iface *if_outgoing);
-void batadv_neigh_ifinfo_put(struct batadv_neigh_ifinfo *neigh_ifinfo);
+void batadv_neigh_ifinfo_release(struct kref *ref);
 
 int batadv_hardif_neigh_dump(struct sk_buff *msg, struct netlink_callback *cb);
 int batadv_hardif_neigh_seq_print_text(struct seq_file *seq, void *offset);
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ batadv_orig_ifinfo_get(struct batadv_orig_node *orig_node,
 struct batadv_orig_ifinfo *
 batadv_orig_ifinfo_new(struct batadv_orig_node *orig_node,
 		       struct batadv_hard_iface *if_outgoing);
-void batadv_orig_ifinfo_put(struct batadv_orig_ifinfo *orig_ifinfo);
+void batadv_orig_ifinfo_release(struct kref *ref);
 
 int batadv_orig_seq_print_text(struct seq_file *seq, void *offset);
 int batadv_orig_dump(struct sk_buff *msg, struct netlink_callback *cb);
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ batadv_orig_node_vlan_new(struct batadv_orig_node *orig_node,
 struct batadv_orig_node_vlan *
 batadv_orig_node_vlan_get(struct batadv_orig_node *orig_node,
 			  unsigned short vid);
-void batadv_orig_node_vlan_put(struct batadv_orig_node_vlan *orig_vlan);
+void batadv_orig_node_vlan_release(struct kref *ref);
 
 /**
  * batadv_choose_orig() - Return the index of the orig entry in the hash table
@@ -86,4 +86,86 @@ static inline u32 batadv_choose_orig(const void *data, u32 size)
 struct batadv_orig_node *
 batadv_orig_hash_find(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv, const void *data);
 
+/**
+ * batadv_orig_node_vlan_put() - decrement the refcounter and possibly release
+ *  the originator-vlan object
+ * @orig_vlan: the originator-vlan object to release
+ */
+static inline void
+batadv_orig_node_vlan_put(struct batadv_orig_node_vlan *orig_vlan)
+{
+	if (!orig_vlan)
+		return;
+
+	kref_put(&orig_vlan->refcount, batadv_orig_node_vlan_release);
+}
+
+/**
+ * batadv_neigh_ifinfo_put() - decrement the refcounter and possibly release
+ *  the neigh_ifinfo
+ * @neigh_ifinfo: the neigh_ifinfo object to release
+ */
+static inline void
+batadv_neigh_ifinfo_put(struct batadv_neigh_ifinfo *neigh_ifinfo)
+{
+	if (!neigh_ifinfo)
+		return;
+
+	kref_put(&neigh_ifinfo->refcount, batadv_neigh_ifinfo_release);
+}
+
+/**
+ * batadv_hardif_neigh_put() - decrement the hardif neighbors refcounter
+ *  and possibly release it
+ * @hardif_neigh: hardif neigh neighbor to free
+ */
+static inline void
+batadv_hardif_neigh_put(struct batadv_hardif_neigh_node *hardif_neigh)
+{
+	if (!hardif_neigh)
+		return;
+
+	kref_put(&hardif_neigh->refcount, batadv_hardif_neigh_release);
+}
+
+/**
+ * batadv_neigh_node_put() - decrement the neighbors refcounter and possibly
+ *  release it
+ * @neigh_node: neigh neighbor to free
+ */
+static inline void batadv_neigh_node_put(struct batadv_neigh_node *neigh_node)
+{
+	if (!neigh_node)
+		return;
+
+	kref_put(&neigh_node->refcount, batadv_neigh_node_release);
+}
+
+/**
+ * batadv_orig_ifinfo_put() - decrement the refcounter and possibly release
+ *  the orig_ifinfo
+ * @orig_ifinfo: the orig_ifinfo object to release
+ */
+static inline void
+batadv_orig_ifinfo_put(struct batadv_orig_ifinfo *orig_ifinfo)
+{
+	if (!orig_ifinfo)
+		return;
+
+	kref_put(&orig_ifinfo->refcount, batadv_orig_ifinfo_release);
+}
+
+/**
+ * batadv_orig_node_put() - decrement the orig node refcounter and possibly
+ *  release it
+ * @orig_node: the orig node to free
+ */
+static inline void batadv_orig_node_put(struct batadv_orig_node *orig_node)
+{
+	if (!orig_node)
+		return;
+
+	kref_put(&orig_node->refcount, batadv_orig_node_release);
+}
+
 #endif /* _NET_BATMAN_ADV_ORIGINATOR_H_ */
diff --git a/net/batman-adv/soft-interface.c b/net/batman-adv/soft-interface.c
index 7496047b318a4..8f7c778255fba 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/soft-interface.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/soft-interface.c
@@ -512,7 +512,7 @@ void batadv_interface_rx(struct net_device *soft_iface,
  *  after rcu grace period
  * @ref: kref pointer of the vlan object
  */
-static void batadv_softif_vlan_release(struct kref *ref)
+void batadv_softif_vlan_release(struct kref *ref)
 {
 	struct batadv_softif_vlan *vlan;
 
@@ -525,19 +525,6 @@ static void batadv_softif_vlan_release(struct kref *ref)
 	kfree_rcu(vlan, rcu);
 }
 
-/**
- * batadv_softif_vlan_put() - decrease the vlan object refcounter and
- *  possibly release it
- * @vlan: the vlan object to release
- */
-void batadv_softif_vlan_put(struct batadv_softif_vlan *vlan)
-{
-	if (!vlan)
-		return;
-
-	kref_put(&vlan->refcount, batadv_softif_vlan_release);
-}
-
 /**
  * batadv_softif_vlan_get() - get the vlan object for a specific vid
  * @bat_priv: the bat priv with all the soft interface information
diff --git a/net/batman-adv/soft-interface.h b/net/batman-adv/soft-interface.h
index 534e08d6ad919..53aba17b90688 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/soft-interface.h
+++ b/net/batman-adv/soft-interface.h
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 
 #include "main.h"
 
+#include <linux/kref.h>
 #include <linux/netdevice.h>
 #include <linux/skbuff.h>
 #include <linux/types.h>
@@ -24,8 +25,21 @@ void batadv_softif_destroy_sysfs(struct net_device *soft_iface);
 bool batadv_softif_is_valid(const struct net_device *net_dev);
 extern struct rtnl_link_ops batadv_link_ops;
 int batadv_softif_create_vlan(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv, unsigned short vid);
-void batadv_softif_vlan_put(struct batadv_softif_vlan *softif_vlan);
+void batadv_softif_vlan_release(struct kref *ref);
 struct batadv_softif_vlan *batadv_softif_vlan_get(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
 						  unsigned short vid);
 
+/**
+ * batadv_softif_vlan_put() - decrease the vlan object refcounter and
+ *  possibly release it
+ * @vlan: the vlan object to release
+ */
+static inline void batadv_softif_vlan_put(struct batadv_softif_vlan *vlan)
+{
+	if (!vlan)
+		return;
+
+	kref_put(&vlan->refcount, batadv_softif_vlan_release);
+}
+
 #endif /* _NET_BATMAN_ADV_SOFT_INTERFACE_H_ */
diff --git a/net/batman-adv/tp_meter.c b/net/batman-adv/tp_meter.c
index db7e3774825b5..00d62a6c5e0ef 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/tp_meter.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/tp_meter.c
@@ -357,6 +357,9 @@ static void batadv_tp_vars_release(struct kref *ref)
  */
 static void batadv_tp_vars_put(struct batadv_tp_vars *tp_vars)
 {
+	if (!tp_vars)
+		return;
+
 	kref_put(&tp_vars->refcount, batadv_tp_vars_release);
 }
 
diff --git a/net/batman-adv/translation-table.c b/net/batman-adv/translation-table.c
index de946ea8f13c8..5f990a2061072 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/translation-table.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/translation-table.c
@@ -248,6 +248,9 @@ static void batadv_tt_local_entry_release(struct kref *ref)
 static void
 batadv_tt_local_entry_put(struct batadv_tt_local_entry *tt_local_entry)
 {
+	if (!tt_local_entry)
+		return;
+
 	kref_put(&tt_local_entry->common.refcount,
 		 batadv_tt_local_entry_release);
 }
@@ -271,7 +274,7 @@ static void batadv_tt_global_entry_free_rcu(struct rcu_head *rcu)
  *  queue for free after rcu grace period
  * @ref: kref pointer of the nc_node
  */
-static void batadv_tt_global_entry_release(struct kref *ref)
+void batadv_tt_global_entry_release(struct kref *ref)
 {
 	struct batadv_tt_global_entry *tt_global_entry;
 
@@ -283,17 +286,6 @@ static void batadv_tt_global_entry_release(struct kref *ref)
 	call_rcu(&tt_global_entry->common.rcu, batadv_tt_global_entry_free_rcu);
 }
 
-/**
- * batadv_tt_global_entry_put() - decrement the tt_global_entry refcounter and
- *  possibly release it
- * @tt_global_entry: tt_global_entry to be free'd
- */
-void batadv_tt_global_entry_put(struct batadv_tt_global_entry *tt_global_entry)
-{
-	kref_put(&tt_global_entry->common.refcount,
-		 batadv_tt_global_entry_release);
-}
-
 /**
  * batadv_tt_global_hash_count() - count the number of orig entries
  * @bat_priv: the bat priv with all the soft interface information
@@ -453,6 +445,9 @@ static void batadv_tt_orig_list_entry_release(struct kref *ref)
 static void
 batadv_tt_orig_list_entry_put(struct batadv_tt_orig_list_entry *orig_entry)
 {
+	if (!orig_entry)
+		return;
+
 	kref_put(&orig_entry->refcount, batadv_tt_orig_list_entry_release);
 }
 
@@ -2818,6 +2813,9 @@ static void batadv_tt_req_node_release(struct kref *ref)
  */
 static void batadv_tt_req_node_put(struct batadv_tt_req_node *tt_req_node)
 {
+	if (!tt_req_node)
+		return;
+
 	kref_put(&tt_req_node->refcount, batadv_tt_req_node_release);
 }
 
diff --git a/net/batman-adv/translation-table.h b/net/batman-adv/translation-table.h
index b24d35b9226a1..63cc8fd3ff66a 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/translation-table.h
+++ b/net/batman-adv/translation-table.h
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 
 #include "main.h"
 
+#include <linux/kref.h>
 #include <linux/netdevice.h>
 #include <linux/netlink.h>
 #include <linux/seq_file.h>
@@ -31,7 +32,7 @@ void batadv_tt_global_del_orig(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
 struct batadv_tt_global_entry *
 batadv_tt_global_hash_find(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv, const u8 *addr,
 			   unsigned short vid);
-void batadv_tt_global_entry_put(struct batadv_tt_global_entry *tt_global_entry);
+void batadv_tt_global_entry_release(struct kref *ref);
 int batadv_tt_global_hash_count(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
 				const u8 *addr, unsigned short vid);
 struct batadv_orig_node *batadv_transtable_search(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
@@ -58,4 +59,19 @@ bool batadv_tt_global_is_isolated(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
 int batadv_tt_cache_init(void);
 void batadv_tt_cache_destroy(void);
 
+/**
+ * batadv_tt_global_entry_put() - decrement the tt_global_entry refcounter and
+ *  possibly release it
+ * @tt_global_entry: tt_global_entry to be free'd
+ */
+static inline void
+batadv_tt_global_entry_put(struct batadv_tt_global_entry *tt_global_entry)
+{
+	if (!tt_global_entry)
+		return;
+
+	kref_put(&tt_global_entry->common.refcount,
+		 batadv_tt_global_entry_release);
+}
+
 #endif /* _NET_BATMAN_ADV_TRANSLATION_TABLE_H_ */
diff --git a/net/batman-adv/tvlv.c b/net/batman-adv/tvlv.c
index 6a23a566cde17..99fc48efde543 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/tvlv.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/tvlv.c
@@ -50,6 +50,9 @@ static void batadv_tvlv_handler_release(struct kref *ref)
  */
 static void batadv_tvlv_handler_put(struct batadv_tvlv_handler *tvlv_handler)
 {
+	if (!tvlv_handler)
+		return;
+
 	kref_put(&tvlv_handler->refcount, batadv_tvlv_handler_release);
 }
 
@@ -106,6 +109,9 @@ static void batadv_tvlv_container_release(struct kref *ref)
  */
 static void batadv_tvlv_container_put(struct batadv_tvlv_container *tvlv)
 {
+	if (!tvlv)
+		return;
+
 	kref_put(&tvlv->refcount, batadv_tvlv_container_release);
 }