diff --git a/drivers/nvme/target/core.c b/drivers/nvme/target/core.c
index a327a43f81666..fc5ba2f9e15f4 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/target/core.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/target/core.c
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ static void nvmet_keep_alive_timer(struct work_struct *work)
 	pr_err("ctrl %d keep-alive timer (%d seconds) expired!\n",
 		ctrl->cntlid, ctrl->kato);
 
-	ctrl->ops->delete_ctrl(ctrl);
+	nvmet_ctrl_fatal_error(ctrl);
 }
 
 static void nvmet_start_keep_alive_timer(struct nvmet_ctrl *ctrl)