diff --git a/drivers/nvme/host/tcp.c b/drivers/nvme/host/tcp.c
index 2405bb9c63cc..2b107a1d152b 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/host/tcp.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/host/tcp.c
@@ -1423,7 +1423,8 @@ static int nvme_tcp_start_queue(struct nvme_ctrl *nctrl, int idx)
 	if (!ret) {
 		set_bit(NVME_TCP_Q_LIVE, &ctrl->queues[idx].flags);
 	} else {
-		__nvme_tcp_stop_queue(&ctrl->queues[idx]);
+		if (test_bit(NVME_TCP_Q_ALLOCATED, &ctrl->queues[idx].flags))
+			__nvme_tcp_stop_queue(&ctrl->queues[idx]);
 		dev_err(nctrl->device,
 			"failed to connect queue: %d ret=%d\n", idx, ret);
 	}