diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/vmwgfx/vmwgfx_kms.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/vmwgfx/vmwgfx_kms.c
index 667437b037f3..66e92acb3c5b 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/vmwgfx/vmwgfx_kms.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/vmwgfx/vmwgfx_kms.c
@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@ int vmw_du_crtc_cursor_set(struct drm_crtc *crtc, struct drm_file *file_priv,
 		if (!ret) {
 			if (!surface->snooper.image) {
 				DRM_ERROR("surface not suitable for cursor\n");
+				vmw_surface_unreference(&surface);
 				return -EINVAL;
 			}
 		} else {