diff --git a/net/iucv/af_iucv.c b/net/iucv/af_iucv.c
index 1ff2860dd3ff..50725e2198f4 100644
--- a/net/iucv/af_iucv.c
+++ b/net/iucv/af_iucv.c
@@ -456,8 +456,8 @@ static void iucv_sever_path(struct sock *sk, int with_user_data)
 	struct iucv_sock *iucv = iucv_sk(sk);
 	struct iucv_path *path = iucv->path;
 
-	if (iucv->path) {
-		iucv->path = NULL;
+	/* Whoever resets the path pointer, must sever and free it. */
+	if (xchg(&iucv->path, NULL)) {
 		if (with_user_data) {
 			low_nmcpy(user_data, iucv->src_name);
 			high_nmcpy(user_data, iucv->dst_name);