diff --git a/drivers/char/ipmi/ipmi_msghandler.c b/drivers/char/ipmi/ipmi_msghandler.c
index f6b8ca6df9b5..186f1fee7534 100644
--- a/drivers/char/ipmi/ipmi_msghandler.c
+++ b/drivers/char/ipmi/ipmi_msghandler.c
@@ -1330,6 +1330,7 @@ static void _ipmi_destroy_user(struct ipmi_user *user)
 	unsigned long    flags;
 	struct cmd_rcvr  *rcvr;
 	struct cmd_rcvr  *rcvrs = NULL;
+	struct module    *owner;
 
 	if (!acquire_ipmi_user(user, &i)) {
 		/*
@@ -1392,8 +1393,9 @@ static void _ipmi_destroy_user(struct ipmi_user *user)
 		kfree(rcvr);
 	}
 
+	owner = intf->owner;
 	kref_put(&intf->refcount, intf_free);
-	module_put(intf->owner);
+	module_put(owner);
 }
 
 int ipmi_destroy_user(struct ipmi_user *user)