diff --git a/net/9p/client.c b/net/9p/client.c
index 565aee6dfcc6..08e0c9990af0 100644
--- a/net/9p/client.c
+++ b/net/9p/client.c
@@ -281,6 +281,11 @@ p9_tag_alloc(struct p9_client *c, int8_t type, unsigned int max_size)
 	p9pdu_reset(&req->rc);
 	req->t_err = 0;
 	req->status = REQ_STATUS_ALLOC;
+	/* refcount needs to be set to 0 before inserting into the idr
+	 * so p9_tag_lookup does not accept a request that is not fully
+	 * initialized. refcount_set to 2 below will mark request ready.
+	 */
+	refcount_set(&req->refcount, 0);
 	init_waitqueue_head(&req->wq);
 	INIT_LIST_HEAD(&req->req_list);