diff --git a/fs/nfs/nfs4client.c b/fs/nfs/nfs4client.c
index 04612c24d394..979631411a0e 100644
--- a/fs/nfs/nfs4client.c
+++ b/fs/nfs/nfs4client.c
@@ -868,8 +868,10 @@ static int nfs4_set_client(struct nfs_server *server,
 	if (IS_ERR(clp))
 		return PTR_ERR(clp);
 
-	if (server->nfs_client == clp)
+	if (server->nfs_client == clp) {
+		nfs_put_client(clp);
 		return -ELOOP;
+	}
 
 	/*
 	 * Query for the lease time on clientid setup or renewal
@@ -1244,11 +1246,11 @@ int nfs4_update_server(struct nfs_server *server, const char *hostname,
 				clp->cl_proto, clnt->cl_timeout,
 				clp->cl_minorversion, net);
 	clear_bit(NFS_MIG_TSM_POSSIBLE, &server->mig_status);
-	nfs_put_client(clp);
 	if (error != 0) {
 		nfs_server_insert_lists(server);
 		return error;
 	}
+	nfs_put_client(clp);
 
 	if (server->nfs_client->cl_hostname == NULL)
 		server->nfs_client->cl_hostname = kstrdup(hostname, GFP_KERNEL);