diff --git a/drivers/nvme/target/core.c b/drivers/nvme/target/core.c
index bc88ff2912f5..a82a0796a614 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/target/core.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/target/core.c
@@ -749,8 +749,10 @@ static void __nvmet_req_complete(struct nvmet_req *req, u16 status)
 
 void nvmet_req_complete(struct nvmet_req *req, u16 status)
 {
+	struct nvmet_sq *sq = req->sq;
+
 	__nvmet_req_complete(req, status);
-	percpu_ref_put(&req->sq->ref);
+	percpu_ref_put(&sq->ref);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(nvmet_req_complete);