diff --git a/net/smc/smc_llc.c b/net/smc/smc_llc.c
index aa6d83af55ed..c7f0222aff8d 100644
--- a/net/smc/smc_llc.c
+++ b/net/smc/smc_llc.c
@@ -1911,6 +1911,8 @@ static void smc_llc_event_handler(struct smc_llc_qentry *qentry)
 			if (lgr->llc_flow_lcl.type ==
 					SMC_LLC_FLOW_REQ_ADD_LINK) {
 				/* server started add_link processing */
+				/* free any qentry stashed in REQ_ADD_LINK state */
+				smc_llc_flow_qentry_del(&lgr->llc_flow_lcl);
 				lgr->llc_flow_lcl.type = SMC_LLC_FLOW_ADD_LINK;
 				smc_llc_flow_qentry_set(&lgr->llc_flow_lcl,
 							qentry);