diff --git a/net/smc/smc_core.c b/net/smc/smc_core.c
index 349d789a9728..53a17cfa61af 100644
--- a/net/smc/smc_core.c
+++ b/net/smc/smc_core.c
@@ -160,8 +160,6 @@ static void smc_lgr_free_work(struct work_struct *work)
 	bool conns;
 
 	spin_lock_bh(&smc_lgr_list.lock);
-	if (list_empty(&lgr->list))
-		goto free;
 	read_lock_bh(&lgr->conns_lock);
 	conns = RB_EMPTY_ROOT(&lgr->conns_all);
 	read_unlock_bh(&lgr->conns_lock);
@@ -169,8 +167,8 @@ static void smc_lgr_free_work(struct work_struct *work)
 		spin_unlock_bh(&smc_lgr_list.lock);
 		return;
 	}
-	list_del_init(&lgr->list); /* remove from smc_lgr_list */
-free:
+	if (!list_empty(&lgr->list))
+		list_del_init(&lgr->list); /* remove from smc_lgr_list */
 	spin_unlock_bh(&smc_lgr_list.lock);
 
 	if (!lgr->is_smcd && !lgr->terminating)	{