diff --git a/net/smc/smc_core.c b/net/smc/smc_core.c
index af227b65669e..8280c938be80 100644
--- a/net/smc/smc_core.c
+++ b/net/smc/smc_core.c
@@ -1474,7 +1474,9 @@ static void smc_conn_abort_work(struct work_struct *work)
 						   abort_work);
 	struct smc_sock *smc = container_of(conn, struct smc_sock, conn);
 
+	lock_sock(&smc->sk);
 	smc_conn_kill(conn, true);
+	release_sock(&smc->sk);
 	sock_put(&smc->sk); /* sock_hold done by schedulers of abort_work */
 }