diff --git a/net/batman-adv/hard-interface.c b/net/batman-adv/hard-interface.c
index db90022..b17e272 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/hard-interface.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/hard-interface.c
@@ -47,13 +47,16 @@
 #include "sysfs.h"
 #include "translation-table.h"
 
-void batadv_hardif_free_rcu(struct rcu_head *rcu)
+/**
+ * batadv_hardif_release - release hard interface from lists and queue for
+ *  free after rcu grace period
+ * @hard_iface: the hard interface to free
+ */
+void batadv_hardif_release(struct batadv_hard_iface *hard_iface)
 {
-	struct batadv_hard_iface *hard_iface;
-
-	hard_iface = container_of(rcu, struct batadv_hard_iface, rcu);
 	dev_put(hard_iface->net_dev);
-	kfree(hard_iface);
+
+	kfree_rcu(hard_iface, rcu);
 }
 
 struct batadv_hard_iface *
diff --git a/net/batman-adv/hard-interface.h b/net/batman-adv/hard-interface.h
index 4d6b5e1..9eb08ad 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/hard-interface.h
+++ b/net/batman-adv/hard-interface.h
@@ -61,18 +61,18 @@
 void batadv_hardif_remove_interfaces(void);
 int batadv_hardif_min_mtu(struct net_device *soft_iface);
 void batadv_update_min_mtu(struct net_device *soft_iface);
-void batadv_hardif_free_rcu(struct rcu_head *rcu);
+void batadv_hardif_release(struct batadv_hard_iface *hard_iface);
 
 /**
  * batadv_hardif_free_ref - decrement the hard interface refcounter and
- *  possibly free it
+ *  possibly release it
  * @hard_iface: the hard interface to free
  */
 static inline void
 batadv_hardif_free_ref(struct batadv_hard_iface *hard_iface)
 {
 	if (atomic_dec_and_test(&hard_iface->refcount))
-		call_rcu(&hard_iface->rcu, batadv_hardif_free_rcu);
+		batadv_hardif_release(hard_iface);
 }
 
 static inline struct batadv_hard_iface *