diff --git a/net/ipv6/mcast.c b/net/ipv6/mcast.c
index ee7839f4d6e34..225736697df5e 100644
--- a/net/ipv6/mcast.c
+++ b/net/ipv6/mcast.c
@@ -257,7 +257,6 @@ static struct inet6_dev *ip6_mc_find_dev_rcu(struct net *net,
 
 		if (rt) {
 			dev = rt->rt6i_dev;
-			dev_hold(dev);
 			dst_release(&rt->dst);
 		}
 	} else