diff --git a/drivers/nvme/host/fc.c b/drivers/nvme/host/fc.c
index d61439f8f5a9..5a70ac395d53 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/host/fc.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/host/fc.c
@@ -2913,10 +2913,22 @@ nvme_fc_reconnect_or_delete(struct nvme_fc_ctrl *ctrl, int status)
 static void
 __nvme_fc_terminate_io(struct nvme_fc_ctrl *ctrl)
 {
-	nvme_stop_keep_alive(&ctrl->ctrl);
+	/*
+	 * if state is connecting - the error occurred as part of a
+	 * reconnect attempt. The create_association error paths will
+	 * clean up any outstanding io.
+	 *
+	 * if it's a different state - ensure all pending io is
+	 * terminated. Given this can delay while waiting for the
+	 * aborted io to return, we recheck adapter state below
+	 * before changing state.
+	 */
+	if (ctrl->ctrl.state != NVME_CTRL_CONNECTING) {
+		nvme_stop_keep_alive(&ctrl->ctrl);
 
-	/* will block will waiting for io to terminate */
-	nvme_fc_delete_association(ctrl);
+		/* will block will waiting for io to terminate */
+		nvme_fc_delete_association(ctrl);
+	}
 
 	if (ctrl->ctrl.state != NVME_CTRL_CONNECTING &&
 	    !nvme_change_ctrl_state(&ctrl->ctrl, NVME_CTRL_CONNECTING))