diff --git a/drivers/nvme/target/fc.c b/drivers/nvme/target/fc.c
index b44b99525c446..205a12b1e8413 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/target/fc.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/target/fc.c
@@ -1068,8 +1068,6 @@ nvmet_fc_alloc_hostport(struct nvmet_fc_tgtport *tgtport, void *hosthandle)
 		/* new allocation not needed */
 		kfree(newhost);
 		newhost = match;
-		/* no new allocation - release reference */
-		nvmet_fc_tgtport_put(tgtport);
 	} else {
 		newhost->tgtport = tgtport;
 		newhost->hosthandle = hosthandle;