diff --git a/mm/backing-dev.c b/mm/backing-dev.c
index b28f629c3527..dd08ab928e07 100644
--- a/mm/backing-dev.c
+++ b/mm/backing-dev.c
@@ -404,7 +404,6 @@ static void cgwb_release_workfn(struct work_struct *work)
 	blkcg_unpin_online(blkcg);
 
 	fprop_local_destroy_percpu(&wb->memcg_completions);
-	percpu_ref_exit(&wb->refcnt);
 	wb_exit(wb);
 	call_rcu(&wb->rcu, cgwb_free_rcu);
 }