diff --git a/net/smc/af_smc.c b/net/smc/af_smc.c
index 898389611ae8..c038efc23ce3 100644
--- a/net/smc/af_smc.c
+++ b/net/smc/af_smc.c
@@ -795,7 +795,7 @@ static int smc_connect_rdma(struct smc_sock *smc,
 			reason_code = SMC_CLC_DECL_NOSRVLINK;
 			goto connect_abort;
 		}
-		smc->conn.lnk = link;
+		smc_switch_link_and_count(&smc->conn, link);
 	}
 
 	/* create send buffer and rmb */
diff --git a/net/smc/smc_core.c b/net/smc/smc_core.c
index cd0d7c908b2a..c160ff50c053 100644
--- a/net/smc/smc_core.c
+++ b/net/smc/smc_core.c
@@ -917,8 +917,8 @@ static int smc_switch_cursor(struct smc_sock *smc, struct smc_cdc_tx_pend *pend,
 	return rc;
 }
 
-static void smc_switch_link_and_count(struct smc_connection *conn,
-				      struct smc_link *to_lnk)
+void smc_switch_link_and_count(struct smc_connection *conn,
+			       struct smc_link *to_lnk)
 {
 	atomic_dec(&conn->lnk->conn_cnt);
 	conn->lnk = to_lnk;
diff --git a/net/smc/smc_core.h b/net/smc/smc_core.h
index 64d86298e4df..c043ecdca5c4 100644
--- a/net/smc/smc_core.h
+++ b/net/smc/smc_core.h
@@ -446,6 +446,8 @@ void smc_core_exit(void);
 int smcr_link_init(struct smc_link_group *lgr, struct smc_link *lnk,
 		   u8 link_idx, struct smc_init_info *ini);
 void smcr_link_clear(struct smc_link *lnk, bool log);
+void smc_switch_link_and_count(struct smc_connection *conn,
+			       struct smc_link *to_lnk);
 int smcr_buf_map_lgr(struct smc_link *lnk);
 int smcr_buf_reg_lgr(struct smc_link *lnk);
 void smcr_lgr_set_type(struct smc_link_group *lgr, enum smc_lgr_type new_type);