diff --git a/drivers/scsi/lpfc/lpfc_sli.c b/drivers/scsi/lpfc/lpfc_sli.c
index e844d9a35b4c..1fdb2232729f 100644
--- a/drivers/scsi/lpfc/lpfc_sli.c
+++ b/drivers/scsi/lpfc/lpfc_sli.c
@@ -11623,6 +11623,7 @@ void
 lpfc_ignore_els_cmpl(struct lpfc_hba *phba, struct lpfc_iocbq *cmdiocb,
 		     struct lpfc_iocbq *rspiocb)
 {
+	struct lpfc_nodelist *ndlp = (struct lpfc_nodelist *) cmdiocb->context1;
 	IOCB_t *irsp = &rspiocb->iocb;
 
 	/* ELS cmd tag <ulpIoTag> completes */
@@ -11631,11 +11632,16 @@ lpfc_ignore_els_cmpl(struct lpfc_hba *phba, struct lpfc_iocbq *cmdiocb,
 			"x%x x%x x%x\n",
 			irsp->ulpIoTag, irsp->ulpStatus,
 			irsp->un.ulpWord[4], irsp->ulpTimeout);
-	lpfc_nlp_put((struct lpfc_nodelist *)cmdiocb->context1);
+	/*
+	 * Deref the ndlp after free_iocb. sli_release_iocb will access the ndlp
+	 * if exchange is busy.
+	 */
 	if (cmdiocb->iocb.ulpCommand == CMD_GEN_REQUEST64_CR)
 		lpfc_ct_free_iocb(phba, cmdiocb);
 	else
 		lpfc_els_free_iocb(phba, cmdiocb);
+
+	lpfc_nlp_put(ndlp);
 }
 
 /**