diff --git a/fs/cifs/transport.c b/fs/cifs/transport.c
index ca3de62688d6..e9e3a0909ff1 100644
--- a/fs/cifs/transport.c
+++ b/fs/cifs/transport.c
@@ -319,8 +319,11 @@ __smb_send_rqst(struct TCP_Server_Info *server, int num_rqst,
 	int val = 1;
 	__be32 rfc1002_marker;
 
-	if (cifs_rdma_enabled(server) && server->smbd_conn) {
-		rc = smbd_send(server, num_rqst, rqst);
+	if (cifs_rdma_enabled(server)) {
+		/* return -EAGAIN when connecting or reconnecting */
+		rc = -EAGAIN;
+		if (server->smbd_conn)
+			rc = smbd_send(server, num_rqst, rqst);
 		goto smbd_done;
 	}