diff --git a/net/xfrm/xfrm_state.c b/net/xfrm/xfrm_state.c
index 7692d587e59b..8a6e8656d014 100644
--- a/net/xfrm/xfrm_state.c
+++ b/net/xfrm/xfrm_state.c
@@ -1331,8 +1331,7 @@ found:
 			xso->dev = xdo->dev;
 			xso->real_dev = xdo->real_dev;
 			xso->flags = XFRM_DEV_OFFLOAD_FLAG_ACQ;
-			netdev_tracker_alloc(xso->dev, &xso->dev_tracker,
-					     GFP_ATOMIC);
+			netdev_hold(xso->dev, &xso->dev_tracker, GFP_ATOMIC);
 			error = xso->dev->xfrmdev_ops->xdo_dev_state_add(x, NULL);
 			if (error) {
 				xso->dir = 0;