diff --git a/net/ipv6/addrconf.c b/net/ipv6/addrconf.c
index dbb5bb9269bb..b0ef65eb9bd2 100644
--- a/net/ipv6/addrconf.c
+++ b/net/ipv6/addrconf.c
@@ -4485,7 +4485,9 @@ static void addrconf_verify_rtnl(void)
 			    age >= ifp->valid_lft) {
 				spin_unlock(&ifp->lock);
 				in6_ifa_hold(ifp);
+				rcu_read_unlock_bh();
 				ipv6_del_addr(ifp);
+				rcu_read_lock_bh();
 				goto restart;
 			} else if (ifp->prefered_lft == INFINITY_LIFE_TIME) {
 				spin_unlock(&ifp->lock);