diff --git a/kernel/audit_watch.c b/kernel/audit_watch.c
index e0656bd63036..1c7ded42f82f 100644
--- a/kernel/audit_watch.c
+++ b/kernel/audit_watch.c
@@ -457,13 +457,15 @@ void audit_remove_watch_rule(struct audit_krule *krule)
 	list_del(&krule->rlist);
 
 	if (list_empty(&watch->rules)) {
+		/*
+		 * audit_remove_watch() drops our reference to 'parent' which
+		 * can get freed. Grab our own reference to be safe.
+		 */
+		audit_get_parent(parent);
 		audit_remove_watch(watch);
-
-		if (list_empty(&parent->watches)) {
-			audit_get_parent(parent);
+		if (list_empty(&parent->watches))
 			fsnotify_destroy_mark(&parent->mark, audit_watch_group);
-			audit_put_parent(parent);
-		}
+		audit_put_parent(parent);
 	}
 }