diff --git a/drivers/nvme/target/pci-epf.c b/drivers/nvme/target/pci-epf.c
index 794e88d1d9a5..346a4badd6b2 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/target/pci-epf.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/target/pci-epf.c
@@ -1595,6 +1595,7 @@ static void nvmet_pci_epf_exec_iod_work(struct work_struct *work)
 	struct nvmet_pci_epf_iod *iod =
 		container_of(work, struct nvmet_pci_epf_iod, work);
 	struct nvmet_req *req = &iod->req;
+	bool no_wait;
 	int ret;
 
 	if (!iod->ctrl->link_up) {
@@ -1639,14 +1640,16 @@ static void nvmet_pci_epf_exec_iod_work(struct work_struct *work)
 		}
 	}
 
-	req->execute(req);
-
 	/*
 	 * If we do not have data to transfer after the command execution
 	 * finishes, nvmet_pci_epf_queue_response() will complete the command
 	 * directly. No need to wait for the completion in this case.
 	 */
-	if (!iod->data_len || iod->dma_dir != DMA_TO_DEVICE)
+	no_wait = !iod->data_len || iod->dma_dir != DMA_TO_DEVICE;
+
+	req->execute(req);
+
+	if (no_wait)
 		return;
 
 	wait_for_completion(&iod->done);