diff --git a/include/net/netrom.h b/include/net/netrom.h
index 15696b1fd30f..ab170a60e7d3 100644
--- a/include/net/netrom.h
+++ b/include/net/netrom.h
@@ -132,6 +132,8 @@ static __inline__ void nr_node_put(struct nr_node *nr_node)
 static __inline__ void nr_neigh_put(struct nr_neigh *nr_neigh)
 {
 	if (atomic_dec_and_test(&nr_neigh->refcount)) {
+		if (nr_neigh->ax25)
+			ax25_cb_put(nr_neigh->ax25);
 		kfree(nr_neigh->digipeat);
 		kfree(nr_neigh);
 	}
diff --git a/net/ax25/ax25_out.c b/net/ax25/ax25_out.c
index bf706f83a5c9..14912600ec57 100644
--- a/net/ax25/ax25_out.c
+++ b/net/ax25/ax25_out.c
@@ -92,6 +92,12 @@ ax25_cb *ax25_send_frame(struct sk_buff *skb, int paclen, ax25_address *src, ax2
 #endif
 	}
 
+	/*
+	 * There is one ref for the state machine; a caller needs
+	 * one more to put it back, just like with the existing one.
+	 */
+	ax25_cb_hold(ax25);
+
 	ax25_cb_add(ax25);
 
 	ax25->state = AX25_STATE_1;
diff --git a/net/netrom/nr_route.c b/net/netrom/nr_route.c
index aacba76070fc..e2e2d33cafdf 100644
--- a/net/netrom/nr_route.c
+++ b/net/netrom/nr_route.c
@@ -843,12 +843,13 @@ int nr_route_frame(struct sk_buff *skb, ax25_cb *ax25)
 	dptr  = skb_push(skb, 1);
 	*dptr = AX25_P_NETROM;
 
-	ax25s = ax25_send_frame(skb, 256, (ax25_address *)dev->dev_addr, &nr_neigh->callsign, nr_neigh->digipeat, nr_neigh->dev);
-	if (nr_neigh->ax25 && ax25s) {
-		/* We were already holding this ax25_cb */
+	ax25s = nr_neigh->ax25;
+	nr_neigh->ax25 = ax25_send_frame(skb, 256,
+					 (ax25_address *)dev->dev_addr,
+					 &nr_neigh->callsign,
+					 nr_neigh->digipeat, nr_neigh->dev);
+	if (ax25s)
 		ax25_cb_put(ax25s);
-	}
-	nr_neigh->ax25 = ax25s;
 
 	dev_put(dev);
 	ret = (nr_neigh->ax25 != NULL);
diff --git a/net/rose/rose_link.c b/net/rose/rose_link.c
index bd86a63960ce..5ef5f6988a2e 100644
--- a/net/rose/rose_link.c
+++ b/net/rose/rose_link.c
@@ -101,13 +101,17 @@ static void rose_t0timer_expiry(unsigned long param)
 static int rose_send_frame(struct sk_buff *skb, struct rose_neigh *neigh)
 {
 	ax25_address *rose_call;
+	ax25_cb *ax25s;
 
 	if (ax25cmp(&rose_callsign, &null_ax25_address) == 0)
 		rose_call = (ax25_address *)neigh->dev->dev_addr;
 	else
 		rose_call = &rose_callsign;
 
+	ax25s = neigh->ax25;
 	neigh->ax25 = ax25_send_frame(skb, 260, rose_call, &neigh->callsign, neigh->digipeat, neigh->dev);
+	if (ax25s)
+		ax25_cb_put(ax25s);
 
 	return (neigh->ax25 != NULL);
 }
@@ -120,13 +124,17 @@ static int rose_send_frame(struct sk_buff *skb, struct rose_neigh *neigh)
 static int rose_link_up(struct rose_neigh *neigh)
 {
 	ax25_address *rose_call;
+	ax25_cb *ax25s;
 
 	if (ax25cmp(&rose_callsign, &null_ax25_address) == 0)
 		rose_call = (ax25_address *)neigh->dev->dev_addr;
 	else
 		rose_call = &rose_callsign;
 
+	ax25s = neigh->ax25;
 	neigh->ax25 = ax25_find_cb(rose_call, &neigh->callsign, neigh->digipeat, neigh->dev);
+	if (ax25s)
+		ax25_cb_put(ax25s);
 
 	return (neigh->ax25 != NULL);
 }
diff --git a/net/rose/rose_route.c b/net/rose/rose_route.c
index 795c4b025e31..70a0b3b4b4d2 100644
--- a/net/rose/rose_route.c
+++ b/net/rose/rose_route.c
@@ -235,6 +235,8 @@ static void rose_remove_neigh(struct rose_neigh *rose_neigh)
 
 	if ((s = rose_neigh_list) == rose_neigh) {
 		rose_neigh_list = rose_neigh->next;
+		if (rose_neigh->ax25)
+			ax25_cb_put(rose_neigh->ax25);
 		kfree(rose_neigh->digipeat);
 		kfree(rose_neigh);
 		return;
@@ -243,6 +245,8 @@ static void rose_remove_neigh(struct rose_neigh *rose_neigh)
 	while (s != NULL && s->next != NULL) {
 		if (s->next == rose_neigh) {
 			s->next = rose_neigh->next;
+			if (rose_neigh->ax25)
+				ax25_cb_put(rose_neigh->ax25);
 			kfree(rose_neigh->digipeat);
 			kfree(rose_neigh);
 			return;
@@ -812,6 +816,7 @@ void rose_link_failed(ax25_cb *ax25, int reason)
 
 	if (rose_neigh != NULL) {
 		rose_neigh->ax25 = NULL;
+		ax25_cb_put(ax25);
 
 		rose_del_route_by_neigh(rose_neigh);
 		rose_kill_by_neigh(rose_neigh);