diff --git a/net/batman-adv/originator.c b/net/batman-adv/originator.c
index 78fd4eab2169fc197967c2fa8805905213a97907..0b7ab38e74fc1ed276366e1ccda4d16b5a7519c5 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/originator.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/originator.c
@@ -202,50 +202,30 @@ void batadv_neigh_ifinfo_free_ref(struct batadv_neigh_ifinfo *neigh_ifinfo)
 }
 
 /**
- * batadv_hardif_neigh_free_rcu - free the hardif neigh_node
- * @rcu: rcu pointer of the neigh_node
- */
-static void batadv_hardif_neigh_free_rcu(struct rcu_head *rcu)
-{
-	struct batadv_hardif_neigh_node *hardif_neigh;
-
-	hardif_neigh = container_of(rcu, struct batadv_hardif_neigh_node, rcu);
-
-	batadv_hardif_free_ref_now(hardif_neigh->if_incoming);
-	kfree(hardif_neigh);
-}
-
-/**
- * batadv_hardif_neigh_free_now - decrement the hardif neighbors refcounter
- *  and possibly free it (without rcu callback)
+ * batadv_hardif_neigh_release - release hardif neigh node from lists and
+ *  queue for free after rcu grace period
  * @hardif_neigh: hardif neigh neighbor to free
  */
 static void
-batadv_hardif_neigh_free_now(struct batadv_hardif_neigh_node *hardif_neigh)
+batadv_hardif_neigh_release(struct batadv_hardif_neigh_node *hardif_neigh)
 {
-	if (atomic_dec_and_test(&hardif_neigh->refcount)) {
-		spin_lock_bh(&hardif_neigh->if_incoming->neigh_list_lock);
-		hlist_del_init_rcu(&hardif_neigh->list);
-		spin_unlock_bh(&hardif_neigh->if_incoming->neigh_list_lock);
+	spin_lock_bh(&hardif_neigh->if_incoming->neigh_list_lock);
+	hlist_del_init_rcu(&hardif_neigh->list);
+	spin_unlock_bh(&hardif_neigh->if_incoming->neigh_list_lock);
 
-		batadv_hardif_neigh_free_rcu(&hardif_neigh->rcu);
-	}
+	batadv_hardif_free_ref(hardif_neigh->if_incoming);
+	kfree_rcu(hardif_neigh, rcu);
 }
 
 /**
  * batadv_hardif_neigh_free_ref - decrement the hardif neighbors refcounter
- *  and possibly free it
+ *  and possibly release it
  * @hardif_neigh: hardif neigh neighbor to free
  */
 void batadv_hardif_neigh_free_ref(struct batadv_hardif_neigh_node *hardif_neigh)
 {
-	if (atomic_dec_and_test(&hardif_neigh->refcount)) {
-		spin_lock_bh(&hardif_neigh->if_incoming->neigh_list_lock);
-		hlist_del_init_rcu(&hardif_neigh->list);
-		spin_unlock_bh(&hardif_neigh->if_incoming->neigh_list_lock);
-
-		call_rcu(&hardif_neigh->rcu, batadv_hardif_neigh_free_rcu);
-	}
+	if (atomic_dec_and_test(&hardif_neigh->refcount))
+		batadv_hardif_neigh_release(hardif_neigh);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -272,8 +252,8 @@ static void batadv_neigh_node_free_rcu(struct rcu_head *rcu)
 					       neigh_node->addr);
 	if (hardif_neigh) {
 		/* batadv_hardif_neigh_get() increases refcount too */
-		batadv_hardif_neigh_free_now(hardif_neigh);
-		batadv_hardif_neigh_free_now(hardif_neigh);
+		batadv_hardif_neigh_free_ref(hardif_neigh);
+		batadv_hardif_neigh_free_ref(hardif_neigh);
 	}
 
 	if (bao->bat_neigh_free)