diff --git a/fs/btrfs/acl.c b/fs/btrfs/acl.c
index fa44e92e9b8f..da3133c69830 100644
--- a/fs/btrfs/acl.c
+++ b/fs/btrfs/acl.c
@@ -269,6 +269,7 @@ int btrfs_init_acl(struct btrfs_trans_handle *trans,
 						    ACL_TYPE_ACCESS);
 			}
 		}
+		posix_acl_release(clone);
 	}
 failed:
 	posix_acl_release(acl);