diff --git a/drivers/nvme/host/fc.c b/drivers/nvme/host/fc.c
index d666ada39a9b..5630ca46c3b5 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/host/fc.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/host/fc.c
@@ -1888,7 +1888,7 @@ nvme_fc_start_fcp_op(struct nvme_fc_ctrl *ctrl, struct nvme_fc_queue *queue,
 	 * the target device is present
 	 */
 	if (ctrl->rport->remoteport.port_state != FC_OBJSTATE_ONLINE)
-		return BLK_STS_IOERR;
+		goto busy;
 
 	if (!nvme_fc_ctrl_get(ctrl))
 		return BLK_STS_IOERR;
@@ -1958,22 +1958,25 @@ nvme_fc_start_fcp_op(struct nvme_fc_ctrl *ctrl, struct nvme_fc_queue *queue,
 					queue->lldd_handle, &op->fcp_req);
 
 	if (ret) {
-		if (op->rq)			/* normal request */
+		if (!(op->flags & FCOP_FLAGS_AEN))
 			nvme_fc_unmap_data(ctrl, op->rq, op);
-		/* else - aen. no cleanup needed */
 
 		nvme_fc_ctrl_put(ctrl);
 
-		if (ret != -EBUSY)
+		if (ctrl->rport->remoteport.port_state == FC_OBJSTATE_ONLINE &&
+				ret != -EBUSY)
 			return BLK_STS_IOERR;
 
-		if (op->rq)
-			blk_mq_delay_run_hw_queue(queue->hctx, NVMEFC_QUEUE_DELAY);
-
-		return BLK_STS_RESOURCE;
+		goto busy;
 	}
 
 	return BLK_STS_OK;
+
+busy:
+	if (!(op->flags & FCOP_FLAGS_AEN) && queue->hctx)
+		blk_mq_delay_run_hw_queue(queue->hctx, NVMEFC_QUEUE_DELAY);
+
+	return BLK_STS_RESOURCE;
 }
 
 static blk_status_t