diff --git a/net/batman-adv/originator.c b/net/batman-adv/originator.c
index 54863c9..b1b1773 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/originator.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/originator.c
@@ -59,9 +59,18 @@
 	return 0;
 }
 
-struct neigh_node *
-create_neighbor(struct orig_node *orig_node, struct orig_node *orig_neigh_node,
-		uint8_t *neigh, struct batman_if *if_incoming)
+void neigh_node_free_ref(struct kref *refcount)
+{
+	struct neigh_node *neigh_node;
+
+	neigh_node = container_of(refcount, struct neigh_node, refcount);
+	kfree(neigh_node);
+}
+
+struct neigh_node *create_neighbor(struct orig_node *orig_node,
+				   struct orig_node *orig_neigh_node,
+				   uint8_t *neigh,
+				   struct batman_if *if_incoming)
 {
 	struct bat_priv *bat_priv = netdev_priv(if_incoming->soft_iface);
 	struct neigh_node *neigh_node;
@@ -78,6 +87,7 @@
 	memcpy(neigh_node->addr, neigh, ETH_ALEN);
 	neigh_node->orig_node = orig_neigh_node;
 	neigh_node->if_incoming = if_incoming;
+	kref_init(&neigh_node->refcount);
 
 	list_add_tail(&neigh_node->list, &orig_node->neigh_list);
 	return neigh_node;
@@ -95,7 +105,7 @@
 		neigh_node = list_entry(list_pos, struct neigh_node, list);
 
 		list_del(list_pos);
-		kfree(neigh_node);
+		kref_put(&neigh_node->refcount, neigh_node_free_ref);
 	}
 
 	frag_list_free(&orig_node->frag_list);
@@ -216,7 +226,7 @@
 
 			neigh_purged = true;
 			list_del(list_pos);
-			kfree(neigh_node);
+			kref_put(&neigh_node->refcount, neigh_node_free_ref);
 		} else {
 			if ((!*best_neigh_node) ||
 			    (neigh_node->tq_avg > (*best_neigh_node)->tq_avg))