diff --git a/net/netfilter/xt_IDLETIMER.c b/net/netfilter/xt_IDLETIMER.c
index 85f017e37cfcc0..9f54819eb52ca2 100644
--- a/net/netfilter/xt_IDLETIMER.c
+++ b/net/netfilter/xt_IDLETIMER.c
@@ -407,21 +407,23 @@ static void idletimer_tg_destroy(const struct xt_tgdtor_param *par)
 
 	mutex_lock(&list_mutex);
 
-	if (--info->timer->refcnt == 0) {
-		pr_debug("deleting timer %s\n", info->label);
-
-		list_del(&info->timer->entry);
-		timer_shutdown_sync(&info->timer->timer);
-		cancel_work_sync(&info->timer->work);
-		sysfs_remove_file(idletimer_tg_kobj, &info->timer->attr.attr);
-		kfree(info->timer->attr.attr.name);
-		kfree(info->timer);
-	} else {
+	if (--info->timer->refcnt > 0) {
 		pr_debug("decreased refcnt of timer %s to %u\n",
 			 info->label, info->timer->refcnt);
+		mutex_unlock(&list_mutex);
+		return;
 	}
 
+	pr_debug("deleting timer %s\n", info->label);
+
+	list_del(&info->timer->entry);
 	mutex_unlock(&list_mutex);
+
+	timer_shutdown_sync(&info->timer->timer);
+	cancel_work_sync(&info->timer->work);
+	sysfs_remove_file(idletimer_tg_kobj, &info->timer->attr.attr);
+	kfree(info->timer->attr.attr.name);
+	kfree(info->timer);
 }
 
 static void idletimer_tg_destroy_v1(const struct xt_tgdtor_param *par)
@@ -432,25 +434,27 @@ static void idletimer_tg_destroy_v1(const struct xt_tgdtor_param *par)
 
 	mutex_lock(&list_mutex);
 
-	if (--info->timer->refcnt == 0) {
-		pr_debug("deleting timer %s\n", info->label);
-
-		list_del(&info->timer->entry);
-		if (info->timer->timer_type & XT_IDLETIMER_ALARM) {
-			alarm_cancel(&info->timer->alarm);
-		} else {
-			timer_shutdown_sync(&info->timer->timer);
-		}
-		cancel_work_sync(&info->timer->work);
-		sysfs_remove_file(idletimer_tg_kobj, &info->timer->attr.attr);
-		kfree(info->timer->attr.attr.name);
-		kfree(info->timer);
-	} else {
+	if (--info->timer->refcnt > 0) {
 		pr_debug("decreased refcnt of timer %s to %u\n",
 			 info->label, info->timer->refcnt);
+		mutex_unlock(&list_mutex);
+		return;
 	}
 
+	pr_debug("deleting timer %s\n", info->label);
+
+	list_del(&info->timer->entry);
 	mutex_unlock(&list_mutex);
+
+	if (info->timer->timer_type & XT_IDLETIMER_ALARM) {
+		alarm_cancel(&info->timer->alarm);
+	} else {
+		timer_shutdown_sync(&info->timer->timer);
+	}
+	cancel_work_sync(&info->timer->work);
+	sysfs_remove_file(idletimer_tg_kobj, &info->timer->attr.attr);
+	kfree(info->timer->attr.attr.name);
+	kfree(info->timer);
 }