diff --git a/kernel/padata.c b/kernel/padata.c
index de90af5fcbe6..791d9cb07a50 100644
--- a/kernel/padata.c
+++ b/kernel/padata.c
@@ -1094,12 +1094,16 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL(padata_alloc_shell);
  */
 void padata_free_shell(struct padata_shell *ps)
 {
+	struct parallel_data *pd;
+
 	if (!ps)
 		return;
 
 	mutex_lock(&ps->pinst->lock);
 	list_del(&ps->list);
-	padata_free_pd(rcu_dereference_protected(ps->pd, 1));
+	pd = rcu_dereference_protected(ps->pd, 1);
+	if (refcount_dec_and_test(&pd->refcnt))
+		padata_free_pd(pd);
 	mutex_unlock(&ps->pinst->lock);
 
 	kfree(ps);