diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en_tc.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en_tc.c
index 11c27e4fadf6..a72ecbc27f85 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en_tc.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en_tc.c
@@ -1404,8 +1404,8 @@ static int mlx5e_create_encap_header_ipv4(struct mlx5e_priv *priv,
 
 	if (!(nud_state & NUD_VALID)) {
 		neigh_event_send(n, NULL);
-		neigh_release(n);
-		return -EAGAIN;
+		err = -EAGAIN;
+		goto out;
 	}
 
 	err = mlx5_encap_alloc(priv->mdev, e->tunnel_type,
@@ -1510,8 +1510,8 @@ static int mlx5e_create_encap_header_ipv6(struct mlx5e_priv *priv,
 
 	if (!(nud_state & NUD_VALID)) {
 		neigh_event_send(n, NULL);
-		neigh_release(n);
-		return -EAGAIN;
+		err = -EAGAIN;
+		goto out;
 	}
 
 	err = mlx5_encap_alloc(priv->mdev, e->tunnel_type,