--- a/net/qrtr/qrtr.c
+++ b/net/qrtr/qrtr.c
@@ -198,9 +198,10 @@ static void __qrtr_node_release(struct k
 /* Increment reference to node. */
 static struct qrtr_node *qrtr_node_acquire(struct qrtr_node *node)
 {
-	if (node)
-		kref_get(&node->ref);
-	return node;
+	if (node && kref_get_unless_zero(&node->ref))
+		return node;
+	else
+		return NULL;
 }
 
 /* Decrement reference to node and release as necessary. */