diff --git a/drivers/char/ipmi/ipmi_si_intf.c b/drivers/char/ipmi/ipmi_si_intf.c
index 3667033fcc51..6eda61664aaa 100644
--- a/drivers/char/ipmi/ipmi_si_intf.c
+++ b/drivers/char/ipmi/ipmi_si_intf.c
@@ -924,9 +924,14 @@ static int sender(void *send_info, struct ipmi_smi_msg *msg)
 {
 	struct smi_info   *smi_info = send_info;
 	unsigned long     flags;
+	int rv = IPMI_CC_NO_ERROR;
 
 	debug_timestamp(smi_info, "Enqueue");
 
+	/*
+	 * Check here for run to completion mode.  A check under lock is
+	 * later.
+	 */
 	if (smi_info->si_state == SI_HOSED)
 		return IPMI_BUS_ERR;
 
@@ -940,18 +945,15 @@ static int sender(void *send_info, struct ipmi_smi_msg *msg)
 	}
 
 	spin_lock_irqsave(&smi_info->si_lock, flags);
-	/*
-	 * The following two lines don't need to be under the lock for
-	 * the lock's sake, but they do need SMP memory barriers to
-	 * avoid getting things out of order.  We are already claiming
-	 * the lock, anyway, so just do it under the lock to avoid the
-	 * ordering problem.
-	 */
-	BUG_ON(smi_info->waiting_msg);
-	smi_info->waiting_msg = msg;
-	check_start_timer_thread(smi_info);
+	if (smi_info->si_state == SI_HOSED) {
+		rv = IPMI_BUS_ERR;
+	} else {
+		BUG_ON(smi_info->waiting_msg);
+		smi_info->waiting_msg = msg;
+		check_start_timer_thread(smi_info);
+	}
 	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&smi_info->si_lock, flags);
-	return IPMI_CC_NO_ERROR;
+	return rv;
 }
 
 static void set_run_to_completion(void *send_info, bool i_run_to_completion)