set_current_state(TASK_RUNNING);
        }
 
-       return 0;
+       module_put_and_exit(0);
 }
 
 /* extract the host portion of the UNC string */
                        so no need to spinlock this init of tcpStatus */
                        srvTcp->tcpStatus = CifsNew;
                        init_MUTEX(&srvTcp->tcpSem);
+
+                       /*
+                        * since we're in a cifs function already, we know that
+                        * this will succeed. No need for try_module_get().
+                        */
+                       __module_get(THIS_MODULE);
                        srvTcp->tsk = kthread_run((void *)(void *)cifs_demultiplex_thread, srvTcp, "cifsd");
                        if (IS_ERR(srvTcp->tsk)) {
                                rc = PTR_ERR(srvTcp->tsk);
                                cERROR(1, ("error %d create cifsd thread", rc));
+                               module_put(THIS_MODULE);
                                srvTcp->tsk = NULL;
                                sock_release(csocket);
                                kfree(srvTcp->hostname);