diff --git a/drivers/scsi/qla2xxx/qla_attr.c b/drivers/scsi/qla2xxx/qla_attr.c
index fa1fcbfb946f..c2bc7f9c728a 100644
--- a/drivers/scsi/qla2xxx/qla_attr.c
+++ b/drivers/scsi/qla2xxx/qla_attr.c
@@ -951,9 +951,9 @@ qla2x00_sysfs_read_dcbx_tlv(struct file *filp, struct kobject *kobj,
 	if (!capable(CAP_SYS_ADMIN) || off != 0 || count > DCBX_TLV_DATA_SIZE)
 		return 0;
 
+	mutex_lock(&vha->hw->optrom_mutex);
 	if (ha->dcbx_tlv)
 		goto do_read;
-	mutex_lock(&vha->hw->optrom_mutex);
 	if (qla2x00_chip_is_down(vha)) {
 		mutex_unlock(&vha->hw->optrom_mutex);
 		return 0;