diff --git a/net/xfrm/xfrm_state.c b/net/xfrm/xfrm_state.c
index f5e39e35d73a..96688cd0f6f1 100644
--- a/net/xfrm/xfrm_state.c
+++ b/net/xfrm/xfrm_state.c
@@ -927,8 +927,8 @@ struct xfrm_state *xfrm_state_lookup_byspi(struct net *net, __be32 spi,
 			x->id.spi != spi)
 			continue;
 
-		spin_unlock_bh(&net->xfrm.xfrm_state_lock);
 		xfrm_state_hold(x);
+		spin_unlock_bh(&net->xfrm.xfrm_state_lock);
 		return x;
 	}
 	spin_unlock_bh(&net->xfrm.xfrm_state_lock);