diff --git a/kernel/audit_tree.c b/kernel/audit_tree.c
index b36aa9651ba2..4b05bd9479db 100644
--- a/kernel/audit_tree.c
+++ b/kernel/audit_tree.c
@@ -373,15 +373,17 @@ static int tag_chunk(struct inode *inode, struct audit_tree *tree)
 	for (n = 0; n < old->count; n++) {
 		if (old->owners[n].owner == tree) {
 			spin_unlock(&hash_lock);
-			put_inotify_watch(watch);
+			put_inotify_watch(&old->watch);
 			return 0;
 		}
 	}
 	spin_unlock(&hash_lock);
 
 	chunk = alloc_chunk(old->count + 1);
-	if (!chunk)
+	if (!chunk) {
+		put_inotify_watch(&old->watch);
 		return -ENOMEM;
+	}
 
 	mutex_lock(&inode->inotify_mutex);
 	if (inotify_clone_watch(&old->watch, &chunk->watch) < 0) {
@@ -425,7 +427,8 @@ static int tag_chunk(struct inode *inode, struct audit_tree *tree)
 	spin_unlock(&hash_lock);
 	inotify_evict_watch(&old->watch);
 	mutex_unlock(&inode->inotify_mutex);
-	put_inotify_watch(&old->watch);
+	put_inotify_watch(&old->watch); /* pair to inotify_find_watch */
+	put_inotify_watch(&old->watch); /* and kill it */
 	return 0;
 }