diff --git a/net/sctp/auth.c b/net/sctp/auth.c
index 0e8529113dc5a0..fb7976aee61c84 100644
--- a/net/sctp/auth.c
+++ b/net/sctp/auth.c
@@ -862,8 +862,6 @@ int sctp_auth_set_key(struct sctp_endpoint *ep,
 		list_add(&cur_key->key_list, sh_keys);
 
 	cur_key->key = key;
-	sctp_auth_key_hold(key);
-
 	return 0;
 nomem:
 	if (!replace)