diff --git a/module/zfs/dsl_deadlist.c b/module/zfs/dsl_deadlist.c
index 8b7b7cef1806..dcb324b48ac8 100644
--- a/module/zfs/dsl_deadlist.c
+++ b/module/zfs/dsl_deadlist.c
@@ -368,8 +368,14 @@ dsl_deadlist_close(dsl_deadlist_t *dl)
 		}
 		avl_destroy(&dl->dl_cache);
 	}
-	dmu_buf_rele(dl->dl_dbuf, dl);
-	dl->dl_dbuf = NULL;
+	/*
+	 * If dmu_bonus_hold() fails in dsl_deadlist_open(), we are left with
+	 * an "open" deadlist that has no hold to release.
+	 */
+	if (dl->dl_dbuf != NULL) {
+		dmu_buf_rele(dl->dl_dbuf, dl);
+		dl->dl_dbuf = NULL;
+	}
 	dl->dl_phys = NULL;
 	dl->dl_os = NULL;
 	dl->dl_object = 0;