diff --git a/net/netfilter/nf_tables_api.c b/net/netfilter/nf_tables_api.c
index 8ac4dd8be1a2..3e841e45f2c0 100644
--- a/net/netfilter/nf_tables_api.c
+++ b/net/netfilter/nf_tables_api.c
@@ -9481,9 +9481,14 @@ struct nft_trans_gc *nft_trans_gc_alloc(struct nft_set *set,
 	if (!trans)
 		return NULL;
 
+	trans->net = maybe_get_net(net);
+	if (!trans->net) {
+		kfree(trans);
+		return NULL;
+	}
+
 	refcount_inc(&set->refs);
 	trans->set = set;
-	trans->net = get_net(net);
 	trans->seq = gc_seq;
 
 	return trans;