diff --git a/net/netfilter/nf_tables_api.c b/net/netfilter/nf_tables_api.c
index db84d607a413..13d4913266b4 100644
--- a/net/netfilter/nf_tables_api.c
+++ b/net/netfilter/nf_tables_api.c
@@ -3669,7 +3669,8 @@ err_destroy_flow_rule:
 	if (flow)
 		nft_flow_rule_destroy(flow);
 err_release_rule:
-	nf_tables_rule_release(&ctx, rule);
+	nft_rule_expr_deactivate(&ctx, rule, NFT_TRANS_PREPARE);
+	nf_tables_rule_destroy(&ctx, rule);
 err_release_expr:
 	for (i = 0; i < n; i++) {
 		if (expr_info[i].ops) {