diff --git a/qla2x00t-32gbit/qla_nvme.c b/qla2x00t-32gbit/qla_nvme.c
index d31954e60..345214936 100644
--- a/qla2x00t-32gbit/qla_nvme.c
+++ b/qla2x00t-32gbit/qla_nvme.c
@@ -467,9 +467,11 @@ out:
 	a.vp_idx = vha->vp_idx;
 	a.nport_handle = uctx->nport_handle;
 	a.xchg_address = uctx->exchange_address;
-	spin_lock_irqsave(ha->base_qpair->qp_lock_ptr, flags);
-	qla_nvme_ls_reject_iocb(vha, ha->base_qpair, &a, true);
-	spin_unlock_irqrestore(ha->base_qpair->qp_lock_ptr, flags);
+	if (ha->flags.fw_started) {
+		spin_lock_irqsave(ha->base_qpair->qp_lock_ptr, flags);
+		qla_nvme_ls_reject_iocb(vha, ha->base_qpair, &a, true);
+		spin_unlock_irqrestore(ha->base_qpair->qp_lock_ptr, flags);
+	}
 	kfree(uctx);
 	return rval;
 }
@@ -1256,9 +1258,14 @@ qla2xxx_process_purls_pkt(struct scsi_qla_host *vha, struct purex_item *item)
 		a.vp_idx = vha->vp_idx;
 		a.nport_handle = uctx->nport_handle;
 		a.xchg_address = uctx->exchange_address;
-		spin_lock_irqsave(vha->hw->base_qpair->qp_lock_ptr, flags);
-		qla_nvme_ls_reject_iocb(vha, vha->hw->base_qpair, &a, true);
-		spin_unlock_irqrestore(vha->hw->base_qpair->qp_lock_ptr, flags);
+		if (vha->hw->flags.fw_started) {
+			spin_lock_irqsave(vha->hw->base_qpair->qp_lock_ptr,
+					  flags);
+			qla_nvme_ls_reject_iocb(vha, vha->hw->base_qpair, &a,
+						true);
+			spin_unlock_irqrestore(vha->hw->base_qpair->qp_lock_ptr,
+					       flags);
+		}
 		list_del(&uctx->elem);
 		kfree(uctx);
 	}