diff --git a/hw/9pfs/9p.c b/hw/9pfs/9p.c
index 66135cf121..d43a552234 100644
--- a/hw/9pfs/9p.c
+++ b/hw/9pfs/9p.c
@@ -2413,6 +2413,7 @@ static void coroutine_fn v9fs_link(void *opaque)
     if (!err) {
         err = offset;
     }
+    put_fid(pdu, oldfidp);
 out:
     put_fid(pdu, dfidp);
 out_nofid: