diff --git a/drivers/block/rbd.c b/drivers/block/rbd.c
index 8f51d6e3883e..f8045dbb73e3 100644
--- a/drivers/block/rbd.c
+++ b/drivers/block/rbd.c
@@ -3394,6 +3394,7 @@ static void rbd_handle_request(struct rbd_device *rbd_dev, struct request *rq)
 		goto err_rq;
 	}
 	img_request->rq = rq;
+	snapc = NULL; /* img_request consumes a ref */
 
 	if (op_type == OBJ_OP_DISCARD)
 		result = rbd_img_request_fill(img_request, OBJ_REQUEST_NODATA,