diff --git a/net/tipc/port.c b/net/tipc/port.c
index b9c8c6b9e94f..c1a1a76759b5 100644
--- a/net/tipc/port.c
+++ b/net/tipc/port.c
@@ -505,9 +505,14 @@ static void port_timeout(unsigned long ref)
 	struct port *p_ptr = tipc_port_lock(ref);
 	struct sk_buff *buf = NULL;
 
-	if (!p_ptr || !p_ptr->publ.connected)
+	if (!p_ptr)
 		return;
 
+	if (!p_ptr->publ.connected) {
+		tipc_port_unlock(p_ptr);
+		return;
+	}
+
 	/* Last probe answered ? */
 	if (p_ptr->probing_state == PROBING) {
 		buf = port_build_self_abort_msg(p_ptr, TIPC_ERR_NO_PORT);