diff --git a/drivers/scsi/bnx2fc/bnx2fc_io.c b/drivers/scsi/bnx2fc/bnx2fc_io.c
index 797b0051b6ff8750d0b203489c65ec7d5a345a32..7154c44fa2c98ac9e89ed7d0f6661988ca5822da 100644
--- a/drivers/scsi/bnx2fc/bnx2fc_io.c
+++ b/drivers/scsi/bnx2fc/bnx2fc_io.c
@@ -752,7 +752,9 @@ static int bnx2fc_initiate_tmf(struct scsi_cmnd *sc_cmd, u8 tm_flags)
 	rc = bnx2fc_init_mp_req(io_req);
 	if (rc == FAILED) {
 		printk(KERN_ERR PFX "Task mgmt MP request init failed\n");
+		spin_lock_bh(&tgt->tgt_lock);
 		kref_put(&io_req->refcount, bnx2fc_cmd_release);
+		spin_unlock_bh(&tgt->tgt_lock);
 		goto tmf_err;
 	}