diff --git a/fs/smb/client/transport.c b/fs/smb/client/transport.c
index da2bef3b7ac2..3fdafb9297f1 100644
--- a/fs/smb/client/transport.c
+++ b/fs/smb/client/transport.c
@@ -1079,9 +1079,11 @@ struct TCP_Server_Info *cifs_pick_channel(struct cifs_ses *ses)
 		index = (uint)atomic_inc_return(&ses->chan_seq);
 		index %= ses->chan_count;
 	}
+
+	server = ses->chans[index].server;
 	spin_unlock(&ses->chan_lock);
 
-	return ses->chans[index].server;
+	return server;
 }
 
 int