diff --git a/kernel/audit_tree.c b/kernel/audit_tree.c
index 8ad9545b8db9e..917ab95255685 100644
--- a/kernel/audit_tree.c
+++ b/kernel/audit_tree.c
@@ -385,6 +385,7 @@ static int tag_chunk(struct inode *inode, struct audit_tree *tree)
 	mutex_lock(&inode->inotify_mutex);
 	if (inotify_clone_watch(&old->watch, &chunk->watch) < 0) {
 		mutex_unlock(&inode->inotify_mutex);
+		put_inotify_watch(&old->watch);
 		free_chunk(chunk);
 		return -ENOSPC;
 	}
@@ -394,6 +395,7 @@ static int tag_chunk(struct inode *inode, struct audit_tree *tree)
 		chunk->dead = 1;
 		inotify_evict_watch(&chunk->watch);
 		mutex_unlock(&inode->inotify_mutex);
+		put_inotify_watch(&old->watch);
 		put_inotify_watch(&chunk->watch);
 		return 0;
 	}