diff --git a/crypto/aead.c b/crypto/aead.c
index 07bf99773548..8cd45a7eb7af 100644
--- a/crypto/aead.c
+++ b/crypto/aead.c
@@ -307,9 +307,22 @@ static void crypto_aead_show(struct seq_file *m, struct crypto_alg *alg)
 	seq_printf(m, "geniv        : <none>\n");
 }
 
+static void crypto_aead_free_instance(struct crypto_instance *inst)
+{
+	struct aead_instance *aead = aead_instance(inst);
+
+	if (!aead->free) {
+		inst->tmpl->free(inst);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	aead->free(aead);
+}
+
 static const struct crypto_type crypto_new_aead_type = {
 	.extsize = crypto_alg_extsize,
 	.init_tfm = crypto_aead_init_tfm,
+	.free = crypto_aead_free_instance,
 #ifdef CONFIG_PROC_FS
 	.show = crypto_aead_show,
 #endif
diff --git a/include/crypto/internal/aead.h b/include/crypto/internal/aead.h
index c3942f4d6e9f..a292e960fb33 100644
--- a/include/crypto/internal/aead.h
+++ b/include/crypto/internal/aead.h
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 struct rtattr;
 
 struct aead_instance {
+	void (*free)(struct aead_instance *inst);
 	union {
 		struct {
 			char head[offsetof(struct aead_alg, base)];