--- x/fs/namei.c
+++ y/fs/namei.c
@@ -3795,8 +3795,11 @@ static struct file *path_openat(struct n
 		while (!(error = link_path_walk(s, nd)) &&
 		       (s = open_last_lookups(nd, file, op)) != NULL)
 			;
-		if (!error)
+		if (!error) {
+			path_get(&nd->path);
 			error = do_open(nd, file, op);
+			path_put(&nd->path);
+		}
 		terminate_walk(nd);
 	}
 	if (likely(!error)) {