--- x/include/net/net_namespace.h
+++ y/include/net/net_namespace.h
@@ -328,6 +328,8 @@ static inline void __netns_tracker_alloc
 					 gfp_t gfp)
 {
 #ifdef CONFIG_NET_NS_REFCNT_TRACKER
+	if (!refcounted)
+		get_net(net);
 	ref_tracker_alloc(refcounted ? &net->refcnt_tracker :
 				       &net->notrefcnt_tracker,
 			  tracker, gfp);
@@ -345,8 +347,10 @@ static inline void __netns_tracker_free(
 					bool refcounted)
 {
 #ifdef CONFIG_NET_NS_REFCNT_TRACKER
-       ref_tracker_free(refcounted ? &net->refcnt_tracker :
+	ref_tracker_free(refcounted ? &net->refcnt_tracker :
 				     &net->notrefcnt_tracker, tracker);
+	if (!refcounted)
+		put_net(net);
 #endif
 }