diff --git a/src/internal/poll/fd_poll_runtime.go b/src/internal/poll/fd_poll_runtime.go
index bfbe3c7de46..866f26f3fcf 100644
--- a/src/internal/poll/fd_poll_runtime.go
+++ b/src/internal/poll/fd_poll_runtime.go
@@ -147,11 +147,11 @@ func setDeadlineImpl(fd *FD, t time.Time, mode int) error {
 	if err := fd.incref(); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+	defer fd.decref()
 	if fd.pd.runtimeCtx == 0 {
 		return errors.New("file type does not support deadlines")
 	}
 	runtime_pollSetDeadline(fd.pd.runtimeCtx, d, mode)
-	fd.decref()
 	return nil
 }