diff --git a/fs/smb/server/transport_tcp.c b/fs/smb/server/transport_tcp.c
index 169e3013e48b..0ef17d070711 100644
--- a/fs/smb/server/transport_tcp.c
+++ b/fs/smb/server/transport_tcp.c
@@ -286,8 +286,11 @@ static int ksmbd_kthread_fn(void *p)
 			}
 		}
 		up_read(&conn_list_lock);
-		if (ret == -EAGAIN)
+		if (ret == -EAGAIN) {
+			/* Per-IP limit hit: release the just-accepted socket. */
+			sock_release(client_sk);
 			continue;
+		}
 
 skip_max_ip_conns_limit:
 		if (server_conf.max_connections &&