diff --git a/net/sched/ematch.c b/net/sched/ematch.c
index 6742200b13071b6e63c200767a77a653d2e10c06..fbb7ebfc58c6761f6afb58e62646908b10e2bf09 100644
--- a/net/sched/ematch.c
+++ b/net/sched/ematch.c
@@ -228,6 +228,7 @@ static int tcf_em_validate(struct tcf_proto *tp,
 				 * to replay the request.
 				 */
 				module_put(em->ops->owner);
+				em->ops = NULL;
 				err = -EAGAIN;
 			}
 #endif