diff --git a/net/atm/lec.c b/net/atm/lec.c
index fb93c6e1c329..4e752b4b623e 100644
--- a/net/atm/lec.c
+++ b/net/atm/lec.c
@@ -534,9 +534,9 @@ send_to_lecd(struct lec_priv *priv, atmlec_msg_type type,

        atm_force_charge(priv->lecd, skb->truesize);
        sk = sk_atm(priv->lecd);
+       sock_hold(sk);
        skb_queue_tail(&sk->sk_receive_queue, skb);
        sk->sk_data_ready(sk);
-
        if (data != NULL) {
                pr_debug("about to send %d bytes of data\n", data->len);
                atm_force_charge(priv->lecd, data->truesize);
@@ -544,6 +544,7 @@ send_to_lecd(struct lec_priv *priv, atmlec_msg_type type,
                sk->sk_data_ready(sk);
        }

+        sock_put(sk);
        return 0;
 }