diff --git a/kernel/relay.c b/kernel/relay.c
index 074994bcfa9b..04d7cf3ef8cf 100644
--- a/kernel/relay.c
+++ b/kernel/relay.c
@@ -614,6 +614,7 @@ free_bufs:
 
 	kref_put(&chan->kref, relay_destroy_channel);
 	mutex_unlock(&relay_channels_mutex);
+	kfree(chan);
 	return NULL;
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(relay_open);