diff --git a/net/ipv4/inet_connection_sock.c b/net/ipv4/inet_connection_sock.c
index 05e3145f7dc3..134957159c27 100644
--- a/net/ipv4/inet_connection_sock.c
+++ b/net/ipv4/inet_connection_sock.c
@@ -593,7 +593,7 @@ static bool reqsk_queue_unlink(struct request_sock_queue *queue,
 	}
 
 	spin_unlock(&queue->syn_wait_lock);
-	if (del_timer_sync(&req->rsk_timer))
+	if (timer_pending(&req->rsk_timer) && del_timer_sync(&req->rsk_timer))
 		reqsk_put(req);
 	return found;
 }