diff --git a/drivers/scsi/lpfc/lpfc_sli.c b/drivers/scsi/lpfc/lpfc_sli.c
index 80ac3a051c19..e2127e85ff32 100644
--- a/drivers/scsi/lpfc/lpfc_sli.c
+++ b/drivers/scsi/lpfc/lpfc_sli.c
@@ -2003,10 +2003,12 @@ initpath:
 
 	sync_buf->cmd_flag |= LPFC_IO_CMF;
 	ret_val = lpfc_sli4_issue_wqe(phba, &phba->sli4_hba.hdwq[0], sync_buf);
-	if (ret_val)
+	if (ret_val) {
 		lpfc_printf_log(phba, KERN_INFO, LOG_CGN_MGMT,
 				"6214 Cannot issue CMF_SYNC_WQE: x%x\n",
 				ret_val);
+		__lpfc_sli_release_iocbq(phba, sync_buf);
+	}
 out_unlock:
 	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&phba->hbalock, iflags);
 	return ret_val;