diff --git a/fs/ext4/super.c b/fs/ext4/super.c
index 93a7e746f425..e3b3483b600d 100644
--- a/fs/ext4/super.c
+++ b/fs/ext4/super.c
@@ -3040,8 +3040,14 @@ static int ext4_dquot_drop(struct inode *inode)
 
 	/* We may delete quota structure so we need to reserve enough blocks */
 	handle = ext4_journal_start(inode, 2*EXT4_QUOTA_DEL_BLOCKS(inode->i_sb));
-	if (IS_ERR(handle))
+	if (IS_ERR(handle)) {
+		/*
+		 * We call dquot_drop() anyway to at least release references
+		 * to quota structures so that umount does not hang.
+		 */
+		dquot_drop(inode);
 		return PTR_ERR(handle);
+	}
 	ret = dquot_drop(inode);
 	err = ext4_journal_stop(handle);
 	if (!ret)