diff --git a/drivers/scsi/lpfc/lpfc_sli.c b/drivers/scsi/lpfc/lpfc_sli.c
index 7920b8c72caf..d8e0ba68879c 100644
--- a/drivers/scsi/lpfc/lpfc_sli.c
+++ b/drivers/scsi/lpfc/lpfc_sli.c
@@ -17492,6 +17492,13 @@ lpfc_sli4_alloc_rpi(struct lpfc_hba *phba)
 static void
 __lpfc_sli4_free_rpi(struct lpfc_hba *phba, int rpi)
 {
+	/*
+	 * if the rpi value indicates a prior unreg has already
+	 * been done, skip the unreg.
+	 */
+	if (rpi == LPFC_RPI_ALLOC_ERROR)
+		return;
+
 	if (test_and_clear_bit(rpi, phba->sli4_hba.rpi_bmask)) {
 		phba->sli4_hba.rpi_count--;
 		phba->sli4_hba.max_cfg_param.rpi_used--;