diff --git a/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_core.c b/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_core.c
index 1da678303d78..a7c7b490cf22 100644
--- a/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_core.c
+++ b/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_core.c
@@ -1383,6 +1383,9 @@ void nf_conntrack_cleanup(void)
 		schedule();
 		goto i_see_dead_people;
 	}
+	/* wait until all references to nf_conntrack_untracked are dropped */
+	while (atomic_read(&nf_conntrack_untracked.ct_general.use) > 1)
+		schedule();
 
 	for (i = 0; i < NF_CT_F_NUM; i++) {
 		if (nf_ct_cache[i].use == 0)