diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en/rep/tc.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en/rep/tc.c
index 8f7452dc00ee..668fdee9cf05 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en/rep/tc.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en/rep/tc.c
@@ -715,5 +715,6 @@ forward:
 	return;
 
 free_skb:
+	dev_put(tc_priv.fwd_dev);
 	dev_kfree_skb_any(skb);
 }