diff --git a/drivers/infiniband/core/iwcm.c b/drivers/infiniband/core/iwcm.c
index 0bb99bb38809..c47c2034ca71 100644
--- a/drivers/infiniband/core/iwcm.c
+++ b/drivers/infiniband/core/iwcm.c
@@ -878,6 +878,8 @@ static void cm_work_handler(struct work_struct *_work)
 			}
 			return;
 		}
+		if (empty)
+			return;
 		spin_lock_irqsave(&cm_id_priv->lock, flags);
 	}
 	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&cm_id_priv->lock, flags);