diff --git a/net/smc/smc_llc.c b/net/smc/smc_llc.c
index f5f6487bb847..5e86926c83a1 100644
--- a/net/smc/smc_llc.c
+++ b/net/smc/smc_llc.c
@@ -233,8 +233,6 @@ static bool smc_llc_flow_start(struct smc_llc_flow *flow,
 	default:
 		flow->type = SMC_LLC_FLOW_NONE;
 	}
-	if (qentry == lgr->delayed_event)
-		lgr->delayed_event = NULL;
 	smc_llc_flow_qentry_set(flow, qentry);
 	spin_unlock_bh(&lgr->llc_flow_lock);
 	return true;
@@ -1603,13 +1601,12 @@ static void smc_llc_event_work(struct work_struct *work)
 	struct smc_llc_qentry *qentry;
 
 	if (!lgr->llc_flow_lcl.type && lgr->delayed_event) {
-		if (smc_link_usable(lgr->delayed_event->link)) {
-			smc_llc_event_handler(lgr->delayed_event);
-		} else {
-			qentry = lgr->delayed_event;
-			lgr->delayed_event = NULL;
+		qentry = lgr->delayed_event;
+		lgr->delayed_event = NULL;
+		if (smc_link_usable(qentry->link))
+			smc_llc_event_handler(qentry);
+		else
 			kfree(qentry);
-		}
 	}
 
 again: