diff --git a/drivers/nvme/target/fc.c b/drivers/nvme/target/fc.c
index 97f4ec37f36d..06d11bb7b944 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/target/fc.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/target/fc.c
@@ -1069,8 +1069,6 @@ nvmet_fc_alloc_hostport(struct nvmet_fc_tgtport *tgtport, void *hosthandle)
 		/* new allocation not needed */
 		kfree(newhost);
 		newhost = match;
-		/* no new allocation - release reference */
-		nvmet_fc_tgtport_put(tgtport);
 	} else {
 		newhost->tgtport = tgtport;
 		newhost->hosthandle = hosthandle;