diff --git a/drivers/nvme/target/core.c b/drivers/nvme/target/core.c
index b4cacb6f0258..a21437a33adb 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/target/core.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/target/core.c
@@ -838,9 +838,13 @@ static void nvmet_fatal_error_handler(struct work_struct *work)
 
 void nvmet_ctrl_fatal_error(struct nvmet_ctrl *ctrl)
 {
-	ctrl->csts |= NVME_CSTS_CFS;
-	INIT_WORK(&ctrl->fatal_err_work, nvmet_fatal_error_handler);
-	schedule_work(&ctrl->fatal_err_work);
+	mutex_lock(&ctrl->lock);
+	if (!(ctrl->csts & NVME_CSTS_CFS)) {
+		ctrl->csts |= NVME_CSTS_CFS;
+		INIT_WORK(&ctrl->fatal_err_work, nvmet_fatal_error_handler);
+		schedule_work(&ctrl->fatal_err_work);
+	}
+	mutex_unlock(&ctrl->lock);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(nvmet_ctrl_fatal_error);