diff --git a/kernel/relay.c b/kernel/relay.c
index 41280033a4c524fff06423fbb7bfdf2834f43e7e..f7f40a6e63528b2bff1fc056fde148ec9b3b0da9 100644
--- a/kernel/relay.c
+++ b/kernel/relay.c
@@ -611,7 +611,6 @@ struct rchan *relay_open(const char *base_filename,
 
 	kref_put(&chan->kref, relay_destroy_channel);
 	mutex_unlock(&relay_channels_mutex);
-	kfree(chan);
 	return NULL;
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(relay_open);