diff --git a/net/batman-adv/tvlv.c b/net/batman-adv/tvlv.c
index 353386780e6d..77654f055f24 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/tvlv.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/tvlv.c
@@ -547,8 +547,12 @@ void batadv_tvlv_handler_register(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
 	INIT_HLIST_NODE(&tvlv_handler->list);
 
 	spin_lock_bh(&bat_priv->tvlv.handler_list_lock);
+	kref_get(&tvlv_handler->refcount);
 	hlist_add_head_rcu(&tvlv_handler->list, &bat_priv->tvlv.handler_list);
 	spin_unlock_bh(&bat_priv->tvlv.handler_list_lock);
+
+	/* don't return reference to new tvlv_handler */
+	batadv_tvlv_handler_put(tvlv_handler);
 }
 
 /**