diff --git a/net/mptcp/subflow.c b/net/mptcp/subflow.c
index 5e03ed8ae899..3cf2eeea9d80 100644
--- a/net/mptcp/subflow.c
+++ b/net/mptcp/subflow.c
@@ -478,7 +478,7 @@ static struct sock *subflow_syn_recv_sock(const struct sock *sk,
 		 */
 		if (!ctx || fallback) {
 			if (fallback_is_fatal)
-				goto close_child;
+				goto dispose_child;
 
 			if (ctx) {
 				subflow_ulp_fallback(child, ctx);
@@ -507,11 +507,11 @@ static struct sock *subflow_syn_recv_sock(const struct sock *sk,
 
 			owner = mptcp_token_get_sock(ctx->token);
 			if (!owner)
-				goto close_child;
+				goto dispose_child;
 
 			ctx->conn = (struct sock *)owner;
 			if (!mptcp_finish_join(child))
-				goto close_child;
+				goto dispose_child;
 
 			SUBFLOW_REQ_INC_STATS(req, MPTCP_MIB_JOINACKRX);
 			tcp_rsk(req)->drop_req = true;
@@ -531,11 +531,14 @@ static struct sock *subflow_syn_recv_sock(const struct sock *sk,
 		      !mptcp_subflow_ctx(child)->conn));
 	return child;
 
-close_child:
+dispose_child:
+	tcp_rsk(req)->drop_req = true;
 	tcp_send_active_reset(child, GFP_ATOMIC);
-	inet_csk_prepare_forced_close(child);
+	inet_csk_prepare_for_destroy_sock(child);
 	tcp_done(child);
-	return NULL;
+
+	/* The last child reference will be released by the caller */
+	return child;
 }
 
 static struct inet_connection_sock_af_ops subflow_specific;