diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/chelsio/cxgb4/smt.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/chelsio/cxgb4/smt.c
index eaf1fb74689c..d6e84c8b5554 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/chelsio/cxgb4/smt.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/chelsio/cxgb4/smt.c
@@ -97,11 +97,9 @@ found_reuse:
 
 static void t4_smte_free(struct smt_entry *e)
 {
-	spin_lock_bh(&e->lock);
 	if (atomic_read(&e->refcnt) == 0) {  /* hasn't been recycled */
 		e->state = SMT_STATE_UNUSED;
 	}
-	spin_unlock_bh(&e->lock);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -111,8 +109,10 @@ static void t4_smte_free(struct smt_entry *e)
  */
 void cxgb4_smt_release(struct smt_entry *e)
 {
+	spin_lock_bh(&e->lock);
 	if (atomic_dec_and_test(&e->refcnt))
 		t4_smte_free(e);
+	spin_unlock_bh(&e->lock);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(cxgb4_smt_release);