diff --git a/drivers/nvme/target/tcp.c b/drivers/nvme/target/tcp.c
index 84c387e4bf431..18f36256095f6 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/target/tcp.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/target/tcp.c
@@ -1437,7 +1437,9 @@ static void nvmet_tcp_release_queue_work(struct work_struct *w)
 	mutex_unlock(&nvmet_tcp_queue_mutex);
 
 	nvmet_tcp_restore_socket_callbacks(queue);
-	flush_work(&queue->io_work);
+	cancel_work_sync(&queue->io_work);
+	/* stop accepting incoming data */
+	queue->rcv_state = NVMET_TCP_RECV_ERR;
 
 	nvmet_tcp_uninit_data_in_cmds(queue);
 	nvmet_sq_destroy(&queue->nvme_sq);