diff --git a/src/afs/LINUX/osi_vnodeops.c b/src/afs/LINUX/osi_vnodeops.c
index 2b26c2be72..9ebbfe1e50 100644
--- a/src/afs/LINUX/osi_vnodeops.c
+++ b/src/afs/LINUX/osi_vnodeops.c
@@ -735,8 +735,12 @@ static inline void
 check_bad_parent(struct dentry *dp)
 {
     cred_t *credp;
-    struct vcache *vcp = VTOAFS(dp->d_inode), *avc = NULL;
-    struct vcache *pvc = VTOAFS(dp->d_parent->d_inode);
+    struct dentry *parent;
+    struct vcache *vcp, *pvc, *avc = NULL;
+
+    vcp = VTOAFS(dp->d_inode);
+    parent = dget_parent(dp);
+    pvc = VTOAFS(parent->d_inode);
 
     if (vcp->mvid->Fid.Volume != pvc->f.fid.Fid.Volume) {	/* bad parent */
 	credp = crref();
@@ -754,6 +758,8 @@ check_bad_parent(struct dentry *dp)
 	crfree(credp);
     }
 
+    dput(parent);
+
     return;
 }