diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/hif_usb.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/hif_usb.c
index 8838cdfcc49779212fea5ab0dfd42959a1465d24..4528df4a5bdc7863ac64491b8f19e55fc688f802 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/hif_usb.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/hif_usb.c
@@ -652,6 +652,12 @@ static int ath9k_hif_usb_alloc_rx_urbs(struct hif_device_usb *hif_dev)
 			usb_unanchor_urb(urb);
 			goto err_submit;
 		}
+
+		/*
+		 * Drop reference count.
+		 * This ensures that the URB is freed when killing them.
+		 */
+		usb_free_urb(urb);
 	}
 
 	return 0;