diff --git a/drivers/block/drbd/drbd_receiver.c b/drivers/block/drbd/drbd_receiver.c
index 248966727bf6..5e090a1e4f91 100644
--- a/drivers/block/drbd/drbd_receiver.c
+++ b/drivers/block/drbd/drbd_receiver.c
@@ -1100,7 +1100,10 @@ randomize:
 	idr_for_each_entry(&connection->peer_devices, peer_device, vnr)
 		mutex_lock(peer_device->device->state_mutex);
 
+	/* avoid a race with conn_request_state( C_DISCONNECTING ) */
+	spin_lock_irq(&connection->resource->req_lock);
 	set_bit(STATE_SENT, &connection->flags);
+	spin_unlock_irq(&connection->resource->req_lock);
 
 	idr_for_each_entry(&connection->peer_devices, peer_device, vnr)
 		mutex_unlock(peer_device->device->state_mutex);