diff --git a/drivers/nvme/target/tcp.c b/drivers/nvme/target/tcp.c
index 4b8b02341ddc..69e971b179ae 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/target/tcp.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/target/tcp.c
@@ -1310,7 +1310,8 @@ static int nvmet_tcp_try_recv_ddgst(struct nvmet_tcp_queue *queue)
 			queue->idx, cmd->req.cmd->common.command_id,
 			queue->pdu.cmd.hdr.type, le32_to_cpu(cmd->recv_ddgst),
 			le32_to_cpu(cmd->exp_ddgst));
-		nvmet_req_uninit(&cmd->req);
+		if (!(cmd->flags & NVMET_TCP_F_INIT_FAILED))
+			nvmet_req_uninit(&cmd->req);
 		nvmet_tcp_free_cmd_buffers(cmd);
 		nvmet_tcp_fatal_error(queue);
 		ret = -EPROTO;