diff --git a/net/batman-adv/originator.c b/net/batman-adv/originator.c
index d52f67a0c057..c355a824713c 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/originator.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/originator.c
@@ -250,7 +250,6 @@ static void batadv_neigh_node_release(struct kref *ref)
 {
 	struct hlist_node *node_tmp;
 	struct batadv_neigh_node *neigh_node;
-	struct batadv_hardif_neigh_node *hardif_neigh;
 	struct batadv_neigh_ifinfo *neigh_ifinfo;
 	struct batadv_algo_ops *bao;
 
@@ -262,13 +261,7 @@ static void batadv_neigh_node_release(struct kref *ref)
 		batadv_neigh_ifinfo_put(neigh_ifinfo);
 	}
 
-	hardif_neigh = batadv_hardif_neigh_get(neigh_node->if_incoming,
-					       neigh_node->addr);
-	if (hardif_neigh) {
-		/* batadv_hardif_neigh_get() increases refcount too */
-		batadv_hardif_neigh_put(hardif_neigh);
-		batadv_hardif_neigh_put(hardif_neigh);
-	}
+	batadv_hardif_neigh_put(neigh_node->hardif_neigh);
 
 	if (bao->bat_neigh_free)
 		bao->bat_neigh_free(neigh_node);
@@ -665,6 +658,10 @@ batadv_neigh_node_new(struct batadv_orig_node *orig_node,
 	neigh_node->orig_node = orig_node;
 	neigh_node->last_seen = jiffies;
 
+	/* increment unique neighbor refcount */
+	kref_get(&hardif_neigh->refcount);
+	neigh_node->hardif_neigh = hardif_neigh;
+
 	/* extra reference for return */
 	kref_init(&neigh_node->refcount);
 	kref_get(&neigh_node->refcount);
@@ -673,9 +670,6 @@ batadv_neigh_node_new(struct batadv_orig_node *orig_node,
 	hlist_add_head_rcu(&neigh_node->list, &orig_node->neigh_list);
 	spin_unlock_bh(&orig_node->neigh_list_lock);
 
-	/* increment unique neighbor refcount */
-	kref_get(&hardif_neigh->refcount);
-
 	batadv_dbg(BATADV_DBG_BATMAN, orig_node->bat_priv,
 		   "Creating new neighbor %pM for orig_node %pM on interface %s\n",
 		   neigh_addr, orig_node->orig, hard_iface->net_dev->name);
diff --git a/net/batman-adv/types.h b/net/batman-adv/types.h
index 65afd090ab3e..1e47fbe8bb7b 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/types.h
+++ b/net/batman-adv/types.h
@@ -433,6 +433,7 @@ struct batadv_hardif_neigh_node {
  * @ifinfo_lock: lock protecting private ifinfo members and list
  * @if_incoming: pointer to incoming hard-interface
  * @last_seen: when last packet via this neighbor was received
+ * @hardif_neigh: hardif_neigh of this neighbor
  * @refcount: number of contexts the object is used
  * @rcu: struct used for freeing in an RCU-safe manner
  */
@@ -444,6 +445,7 @@ struct batadv_neigh_node {
 	spinlock_t ifinfo_lock;	/* protects ifinfo_list and its members */
 	struct batadv_hard_iface *if_incoming;
 	unsigned long last_seen;
+	struct batadv_hardif_neigh_node *hardif_neigh;
 	struct kref refcount;
 	struct rcu_head rcu;
 };