diff --git a/kernel/kent.c b/kernel/kent.c
index 3c83a11..7e0945d 100644
--- a/kernel/kent.c
+++ b/kernel/kent.c
@@ -40,14 +40,13 @@ void kent_get(struct kent *kent)
 
 void kent_put(struct kent *kent)
 {
-	struct kent *parent = kent->parent;
-
-	if (atom_put(&kent->refcount) == 1) {
+	do {
+		struct kent *parent = kent->parent;
+		if (atom_put(&kent->refcount) != 1)
+			break;
 		kent->destroy(kent);
-
-		if (parent != NULL)
-			kent_put(parent);
-	}
+		kent = parent;
+	} while (kent != NULL);
 }
 
 /*