diff --git a/iscsi-scst/kernel/isert-scst/iser.h b/iscsi-scst/kernel/isert-scst/iser.h
index eeb8040fc..501fcf7d0 100644
--- a/iscsi-scst/kernel/isert-scst/iser.h
+++ b/iscsi-scst/kernel/isert-scst/iser.h
@@ -160,6 +160,7 @@ struct isert_cq {
 #define ISERT_DRAIN_POSTED		1
 #define ISERT_DRAIN_FAILED		2
 #define ISERT_DISCON_CALLED		3
+#define ISERT_CONNECTION_EST		4
 
 struct isert_connection {
 	struct iscsi_conn	iscsi ____cacheline_aligned;
diff --git a/iscsi-scst/kernel/isert-scst/iser_rdma.c b/iscsi-scst/kernel/isert-scst/iser_rdma.c
index c856f15d5..d78e2e08b 100644
--- a/iscsi-scst/kernel/isert-scst/iser_rdma.c
+++ b/iscsi-scst/kernel/isert-scst/iser_rdma.c
@@ -599,7 +599,10 @@ static void isert_conn_closed_do_work(struct work_struct *work)
 		if (!test_and_set_bit(ISERT_DISCON_CALLED, &isert_conn->flags))
 			isert_connection_closed(&isert_conn->iscsi);
 
-	isert_conn_free(isert_conn);
+	/* if connection established we have another refcount */
+	if (test_bit(ISERT_CONNECTION_EST, &isert_conn->flags)) {
+		isert_conn_free(isert_conn);
+	}
 }
 
 static void isert_sched_conn_closed(struct isert_connection *isert_conn)
@@ -1480,6 +1483,8 @@ static int isert_cm_connect_handler(struct rdma_cm_id *cm_id,
 		goto out;
 	}
 
+	set_bit(ISERT_CONNECTION_EST, &isert_conn->flags);
+
 	if (push_saved_pdu) {
 		pr_info("iser push saved rx pdu\n");
 		isert_recv_completion_handler(isert_conn->saved_wr);