diff --git a/net/sched/cls_api.c b/net/sched/cls_api.c
index 0aca0ecb029bdc..d88a0946301c51 100644
--- a/net/sched/cls_api.c
+++ b/net/sched/cls_api.c
@@ -2766,6 +2766,7 @@ static int tc_chain_tmplt_add(struct tcf_chain *chain, struct net *net,
 		return PTR_ERR(ops);
 	if (!ops->tmplt_create || !ops->tmplt_destroy || !ops->tmplt_dump) {
 		NL_SET_ERR_MSG(extack, "Chain templates are not supported with specified classifier");
+		module_put(ops->owner);
 		return -EOPNOTSUPP;
 	}