diff --git a/drivers/nvme/host/core.c b/drivers/nvme/host/core.c
index 46df030b2c3f..e541fe268bcf 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/host/core.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/host/core.c
@@ -848,9 +848,6 @@ static void nvme_start_keep_alive(struct nvme_ctrl *ctrl)
 	if (unlikely(ctrl->kato == 0))
 		return;
 
-	INIT_DELAYED_WORK(&ctrl->ka_work, nvme_keep_alive_work);
-	memset(&ctrl->ka_cmd, 0, sizeof(ctrl->ka_cmd));
-	ctrl->ka_cmd.common.opcode = nvme_admin_keep_alive;
 	schedule_delayed_work(&ctrl->ka_work, ctrl->kato * HZ);
 }
 
@@ -3484,6 +3481,10 @@ int nvme_init_ctrl(struct nvme_ctrl *ctrl, struct device *dev,
 	INIT_WORK(&ctrl->fw_act_work, nvme_fw_act_work);
 	INIT_WORK(&ctrl->delete_work, nvme_delete_ctrl_work);
 
+	INIT_DELAYED_WORK(&ctrl->ka_work, nvme_keep_alive_work);
+	memset(&ctrl->ka_cmd, 0, sizeof(ctrl->ka_cmd));
+	ctrl->ka_cmd.common.opcode = nvme_admin_keep_alive;
+
 	ret = ida_simple_get(&nvme_instance_ida, 0, 0, GFP_KERNEL);
 	if (ret < 0)
 		goto out;