diff --git a/drivers/scsi/qla2xxx/qla_target.c b/drivers/scsi/qla2xxx/qla_target.c
index c6c3b97a1e93..feab7ea8e823 100644
--- a/drivers/scsi/qla2xxx/qla_target.c
+++ b/drivers/scsi/qla2xxx/qla_target.c
@@ -5375,16 +5375,22 @@ qlt_send_busy(struct scsi_qla_host *vha,
 
 static int
 qlt_chk_qfull_thresh_hold(struct scsi_qla_host *vha,
-	struct atio_from_isp *atio)
+	struct atio_from_isp *atio, bool ha_locked)
 {
 	struct qla_hw_data *ha = vha->hw;
 	uint16_t status;
+	unsigned long flags;
 
 	if (ha->tgt.num_pend_cmds < Q_FULL_THRESH_HOLD(ha))
 		return 0;
 
+	if (!ha_locked)
+		spin_lock_irqsave(&ha->hardware_lock, flags);
 	status = temp_sam_status;
 	qlt_send_busy(vha, atio, status);
+	if (!ha_locked)
+		spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ha->hardware_lock, flags);
+
 	return 1;
 }
 
@@ -5429,7 +5435,7 @@ static void qlt_24xx_atio_pkt(struct scsi_qla_host *vha,
 
 
 		if (likely(atio->u.isp24.fcp_cmnd.task_mgmt_flags == 0)) {
-			rc = qlt_chk_qfull_thresh_hold(vha, atio);
+			rc = qlt_chk_qfull_thresh_hold(vha, atio, ha_locked);
 			if (rc != 0) {
 				tgt->atio_irq_cmd_count--;
 				return;
@@ -5552,7 +5558,7 @@ static void qlt_response_pkt(struct scsi_qla_host *vha, response_t *pkt)
 			break;
 		}
 
-		rc = qlt_chk_qfull_thresh_hold(vha, atio);
+		rc = qlt_chk_qfull_thresh_hold(vha, atio, true);
 		if (rc != 0) {
 			tgt->irq_cmd_count--;
 			return;