diff --git a/net/netfilter/nft_compat.c b/net/netfilter/nft_compat.c
index 7533c2fd6b76..7344ec7fff2a 100644
--- a/net/netfilter/nft_compat.c
+++ b/net/netfilter/nft_compat.c
@@ -277,6 +277,7 @@ nft_target_destroy(const struct nft_ctx *ctx, const struct nft_expr *expr)
 {
 	struct xt_target *target = expr->ops->data;
 	void *info = nft_expr_priv(expr);
+	struct module *me = target->me;
 	struct xt_tgdtor_param par;
 
 	par.net = ctx->net;
@@ -287,7 +288,7 @@ nft_target_destroy(const struct nft_ctx *ctx, const struct nft_expr *expr)
 		par.target->destroy(&par);
 
 	if (nft_xt_put(container_of(expr->ops, struct nft_xt, ops)))
-		module_put(target->me);
+		module_put(me);
 }
 
 static int nft_target_dump(struct sk_buff *skb, const struct nft_expr *expr)