diff --git a/net/mptcp/subflow.c b/net/mptcp/subflow.c
index 409bd415ef1d..24c2de1891bd 100644
--- a/net/mptcp/subflow.c
+++ b/net/mptcp/subflow.c
@@ -899,13 +899,17 @@ static struct sock *subflow_syn_recv_sock(const struct sock *sk,
 				goto dispose_child;
 			}
 
-			if (!subflow_hmac_valid(req, &mp_opt) ||
-			    !mptcp_can_accept_new_subflow(subflow_req->msk)) {
+			if (!subflow_hmac_valid(req, &mp_opt)) {
 				SUBFLOW_REQ_INC_STATS(req, MPTCP_MIB_JOINACKMAC);
 				subflow_add_reset_reason(skb, MPTCP_RST_EPROHIBIT);
 				goto dispose_child;
 			}
 
+			if (!mptcp_can_accept_new_subflow(owner)) {
+				subflow_add_reset_reason(skb, MPTCP_RST_EPROHIBIT);
+				goto dispose_child;
+			}
+
 			/* move the msk reference ownership to the subflow */
 			subflow_req->msk = NULL;
 			ctx->conn = (struct sock *)owner;