diff --git a/module/zfs/zfs_ioctl.c b/module/zfs/zfs_ioctl.c
index 3bbc9107a..4fcfd18e5 100644
--- a/module/zfs/zfs_ioctl.c
+++ b/module/zfs/zfs_ioctl.c
@@ -1439,6 +1439,7 @@ zfsvfs_hold(const char *name, const void *tag, zfsvfs_t **zfvp,
 			 * objset from the zfsvfs.
 			 */
 			ZFS_TEARDOWN_EXIT(*zfvp, tag);
+			zfs_vfs_rele(*zfvp);
 			return (SET_ERROR(EBUSY));
 		}
 	}