diff --git a/net/sched/sch_htb.c b/net/sched/sch_htb.c
index 355974f..88cd026 100644
--- a/net/sched/sch_htb.c
+++ b/net/sched/sch_htb.c
@@ -1275,8 +1275,11 @@
 	if (last_child)
 		htb_parent_to_leaf(q, cl, new_q);
 
-	if (--cl->refcnt == 0)
-		htb_destroy_class(sch, cl);
+	BUG_ON(--cl->refcnt == 0);
+	/*
+	 * This shouldn't happen: we "hold" one cops->get() when called
+	 * from tc_ctl_tclass; the destroy method is done from cops->put().
+	 */
 
 	sch_tree_unlock(sch);
 	return 0;