diff --git a/drivers/infiniband/ulp/isert/ib_isert.c b/drivers/infiniband/ulp/isert/ib_isert.c
index d4c7928a0f36..e318731ffe98 100644
--- a/drivers/infiniband/ulp/isert/ib_isert.c
+++ b/drivers/infiniband/ulp/isert/ib_isert.c
@@ -586,7 +586,6 @@ isert_connect_request(struct rdma_cm_id *cma_id, struct rdma_cm_event *event)
 	init_completion(&isert_conn->conn_wait);
 	init_completion(&isert_conn->conn_wait_comp_err);
 	kref_init(&isert_conn->conn_kref);
-	kref_get(&isert_conn->conn_kref);
 	mutex_init(&isert_conn->conn_mutex);
 	spin_lock_init(&isert_conn->conn_lock);
 	INIT_LIST_HEAD(&isert_conn->conn_fr_pool);
@@ -746,7 +745,9 @@ isert_connect_release(struct isert_conn *isert_conn)
 static void
 isert_connected_handler(struct rdma_cm_id *cma_id)
 {
-	return;
+	struct isert_conn *isert_conn = cma_id->context;
+
+	kref_get(&isert_conn->conn_kref);
 }
 
 static void