diff --git a/drivers/scsi/qla2xxx/qla_mbx.c b/drivers/scsi/qla2xxx/qla_mbx.c
index 59023492c5a9..ba4a4764de1f 100644
--- a/drivers/scsi/qla2xxx/qla_mbx.c
+++ b/drivers/scsi/qla2xxx/qla_mbx.c
@@ -4267,6 +4267,7 @@ qla24xx_report_id_acquisition(scsi_qla_host_t *vha, void *pkt)
 			list_for_each_entry(vp, &ha->vp_list, list) {
 				if (vp_idx == vp->vp_idx) {
 					found = 1;
+					atomic_inc(&vp->vref_count);
 					break;
 				}
 			}
@@ -4284,6 +4285,8 @@ qla24xx_report_id_acquisition(scsi_qla_host_t *vha, void *pkt)
 			set_bit(VP_IDX_ACQUIRED, &vp->vp_flags);
 			set_bit(REGISTER_FC4_NEEDED, &vp->dpc_flags);
 			set_bit(REGISTER_FDMI_NEEDED, &vp->dpc_flags);
+
+			atomic_dec(&vp->vref_count);
 		}
 		set_bit(VP_DPC_NEEDED, &vha->dpc_flags);
 		qla2xxx_wake_dpc(vha);