diff --git a/drivers/nvme/target/core.c b/drivers/nvme/target/core.c
index c27660a660d9a..a339719100051 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/target/core.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/target/core.c
@@ -735,6 +735,8 @@ static void nvmet_set_error(struct nvmet_req *req, u16 status)
 
 static void __nvmet_req_complete(struct nvmet_req *req, u16 status)
 {
+	struct nvmet_ns *ns = req->ns;
+
 	if (!req->sq->sqhd_disabled)
 		nvmet_update_sq_head(req);
 	req->cqe->sq_id = cpu_to_le16(req->sq->qid);
@@ -745,9 +747,9 @@ static void __nvmet_req_complete(struct nvmet_req *req, u16 status)
 
 	trace_nvmet_req_complete(req);
 
-	if (req->ns)
-		nvmet_put_namespace(req->ns);
 	req->ops->queue_response(req);
+	if (ns)
+		nvmet_put_namespace(ns);
 }
 
 void nvmet_req_complete(struct nvmet_req *req, u16 status)