diff --git a/net/ipv6/route.c b/net/ipv6/route.c
index 480a79f47c523..b5d3e6b294ab3 100644
--- a/net/ipv6/route.c
+++ b/net/ipv6/route.c
@@ -976,6 +976,10 @@ static void rt6_set_from(struct rt6_info *rt, struct fib6_info *from)
 	rt->rt6i_flags &= ~RTF_EXPIRES;
 	rcu_assign_pointer(rt->from, from);
 	dst_init_metrics(&rt->dst, from->fib6_metrics->metrics, true);
+	if (from->fib6_metrics != &dst_default_metrics) {
+		rt->dst._metrics |= DST_METRICS_REFCOUNTED;
+		refcount_inc(&from->fib6_metrics->refcnt);
+	}
 }
 
 /* Caller must already hold reference to @ort */