--- x/kernel/nscommon.c
+++ y/kernel/nscommon.c
@@ -117,9 +117,7 @@ struct ns_common *__must_check ns_owner(
 
 void __ns_ref_active_get_owner(struct ns_common *ns)
 {
-	ns = ns_owner(ns);
-	if (ns)
-		WARN_ON_ONCE(atomic_add_negative(1, &ns->__ns_ref_active));
+	__ns_ref_active_resurrect(ns);
 }
 
 /*