diff --git a/drivers/nvme/target/fc.c b/drivers/nvme/target/fc.c
index eecdffefa24f..b1504557768f 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/target/fc.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/target/fc.c
@@ -1799,9 +1799,6 @@ nvmet_fc_ls_create_connection(struct nvmet_fc_tgtport *tgtport,
 					be16_to_cpu(rqst->connect_cmd.sqsize));
 			if (!queue)
 				ret = VERR_QUEUE_ALLOC_FAIL;
-
-			/* release get taken in nvmet_fc_find_target_assoc */
-			nvmet_fc_tgt_a_put(iod->assoc);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -1815,6 +1812,8 @@ nvmet_fc_ls_create_connection(struct nvmet_fc_tgtport *tgtport,
 					FCNVME_RJT_RC_INV_ASSOC :
 					FCNVME_RJT_RC_LOGIC,
 				FCNVME_RJT_EXP_NONE, 0);
+		if (iod->assoc)
+			nvmet_fc_tgt_a_put(iod->assoc);
 		return;
 	}
 
@@ -1836,6 +1835,9 @@ nvmet_fc_ls_create_connection(struct nvmet_fc_tgtport *tgtport,
 	acc->connectid.connection_id =
 			cpu_to_be64(nvmet_fc_makeconnid(iod->assoc,
 				be16_to_cpu(rqst->connect_cmd.qid)));
+
+	/* release get taken in nvmet_fc_find_target_assoc */
+	nvmet_fc_tgt_a_put(iod->assoc);
 }
 
 /*