diff --git a/net/core/dst.c b/net/core/dst.c
index 00aa972ad1a1..b293aeae3018 100644
--- a/net/core/dst.c
+++ b/net/core/dst.c
@@ -241,8 +241,14 @@ void __dst_destroy_metrics_generic(struct dst_entry *dst, unsigned long old)
 
 	new = ((unsigned long) &dst_default_metrics) | DST_METRICS_READ_ONLY;
 	prev = cmpxchg(&dst->_metrics, old, new);
-	if (prev == old)
-		kfree(__DST_METRICS_PTR(old));
+	if (prev == old) {
+		struct dst_metrics *old_p = (struct dst_metrics *)__DST_METRICS_PTR(old);
+
+		if (prev & DST_METRICS_REFCOUNTED) {
+			if (atomic_dec_and_test(&old_p->refcnt))
+				kfree(old_p);
+		}
+	}
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(__dst_destroy_metrics_generic);