diff --git a/drivers/nvme/host/fc.c b/drivers/nvme/host/fc.c
index fb22976a36a8..1d51925ea67f 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/host/fc.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/host/fc.c
@@ -2548,24 +2548,17 @@ nvme_fc_error_recovery(struct nvme_fc_ctrl *ctrl, char *errmsg)
 	 * the controller.  Abort any ios on the association and let the
 	 * create_association error path resolve things.
 	 */
-	enum nvme_ctrl_state state;
-	unsigned long flags;
-
-	spin_lock_irqsave(&ctrl->lock, flags);
-	state = ctrl->ctrl.state;
-	if (state == NVME_CTRL_CONNECTING) {
-		set_bit(ASSOC_FAILED, &ctrl->flags);
-		spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ctrl->lock, flags);
+	if (ctrl->ctrl.state == NVME_CTRL_CONNECTING) {
 		__nvme_fc_abort_outstanding_ios(ctrl, true);
+		set_bit(ASSOC_FAILED, &ctrl->flags);
 		dev_warn(ctrl->ctrl.device,
 			"NVME-FC{%d}: transport error during (re)connect\n",
 			ctrl->cnum);
 		return;
 	}
-	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ctrl->lock, flags);
 
 	/* Otherwise, only proceed if in LIVE state - e.g. on first error */
-	if (state != NVME_CTRL_LIVE)
+	if (ctrl->ctrl.state != NVME_CTRL_LIVE)
 		return;
 
 	dev_warn(ctrl->ctrl.device,
@@ -3180,16 +3173,12 @@ nvme_fc_create_association(struct nvme_fc_ctrl *ctrl)
 		else
 			ret = nvme_fc_recreate_io_queues(ctrl);
 	}
-
-	spin_lock_irqsave(&ctrl->lock, flags);
 	if (!ret && test_bit(ASSOC_FAILED, &ctrl->flags))
 		ret = -EIO;
-	if (ret) {
-		spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ctrl->lock, flags);
+	if (ret)
 		goto out_term_aen_ops;
-	}
+
 	changed = nvme_change_ctrl_state(&ctrl->ctrl, NVME_CTRL_LIVE);
-	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ctrl->lock, flags);
 
 	ctrl->ctrl.nr_reconnects = 0;