--- x/fs/kernfs/dir.c
+++ d/fs/kernfs/dir.c
@@ -1364,6 +1364,7 @@ static void __kernfs_remove(struct kernf
 		if (kernfs_active(pos))
 			atomic_add(KN_DEACTIVATED_BIAS, &pos->active);
 
+	kernfs_get(kn);
 	/* deactivate and unlink the subtree node-by-node */
 	do {
 		pos = kernfs_leftmost_descendant(kn);
@@ -1406,6 +1407,8 @@ static void __kernfs_remove(struct kernf
 
 		kernfs_put(pos);
 	} while (pos != kn);
+
+	kernfs_put(kn);
 }
 
 /**