diff --git a/fs/fuse/cuse.c b/fs/fuse/cuse.c
index eae2c11268bc..8e3ee1936c7e 100644
--- a/fs/fuse/cuse.c
+++ b/fs/fuse/cuse.c
@@ -549,6 +549,8 @@ static int cuse_channel_release(struct inode *inode, struct file *file)
 		unregister_chrdev_region(cc->cdev->dev, 1);
 		cdev_del(cc->cdev);
 	}
+	/* Base reference is now owned by "fud" */
+	fuse_conn_put(&cc->fc);
 
 	rc = fuse_dev_release(inode, file);	/* puts the base reference */