diff --git a/drivers/nvme/host/rdma.c b/drivers/nvme/host/rdma.c
index 7fd1d735ced5..3ffec3728abe 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/host/rdma.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/host/rdma.c
@@ -169,7 +169,6 @@ MODULE_PARM_DESC(register_always,
 static int nvme_rdma_cm_handler(struct rdma_cm_id *cm_id,
 		struct rdma_cm_event *event);
 static void nvme_rdma_recv_done(struct ib_cq *cq, struct ib_wc *wc);
-static int __nvme_rdma_del_ctrl(struct nvme_rdma_ctrl *ctrl);
 
 /* XXX: really should move to a generic header sooner or later.. */
 static inline void put_unaligned_le24(u32 val, u8 *p)
@@ -1320,37 +1319,39 @@ static int nvme_rdma_route_resolved(struct nvme_rdma_queue *queue)
  * that caught the event. Since we hold the callout until the controller
  * deletion is completed, we'll deadlock if the controller deletion will
  * call rdma_destroy_id on this queue's cm_id. Thus, we claim ownership
- * of destroying this queue before-hand, destroy the queue resources
- * after the controller deletion completed with the exception of destroying
- * the cm_id implicitely by returning a non-zero rc to the callout.
+ * of destroying this queue before-hand, destroy the queue resources,
+ * then queue the controller deletion which won't destroy this queue and
+ * we destroy the cm_id implicitely by returning a non-zero rc to the callout.
  */
 static int nvme_rdma_device_unplug(struct nvme_rdma_queue *queue)
 {
 	struct nvme_rdma_ctrl *ctrl = queue->ctrl;
-	int ret, ctrl_deleted = 0;
+	int ret;
 
-	/* First disable the queue so ctrl delete won't free it */
-	if (!test_and_clear_bit(NVME_RDMA_Q_CONNECTED, &queue->flags))
-		goto out;
+	/* Own the controller deletion */
+	if (!nvme_change_ctrl_state(&ctrl->ctrl, NVME_CTRL_DELETING))
+		return 0;
 
-	/* delete the controller */
-	ret = __nvme_rdma_del_ctrl(ctrl);
-	if (!ret) {
-		dev_warn(ctrl->ctrl.device,
-			"Got rdma device removal event, deleting ctrl\n");
-		flush_work(&ctrl->delete_work);
+	dev_warn(ctrl->ctrl.device,
+		"Got rdma device removal event, deleting ctrl\n");
+
+	/* Get rid of reconnect work if its running */
+	cancel_delayed_work_sync(&ctrl->reconnect_work);
+
+	/* Disable the queue so ctrl delete won't free it */
+	if (test_and_clear_bit(NVME_RDMA_Q_CONNECTED, &queue->flags)) {
+		/* Free this queue ourselves */
+		nvme_rdma_stop_queue(queue);
+		nvme_rdma_destroy_queue_ib(queue);
 
 		/* Return non-zero so the cm_id will destroy implicitly */
-		ctrl_deleted = 1;
-
-		/* Free this queue ourselves */
-		rdma_disconnect(queue->cm_id);
-		ib_drain_qp(queue->qp);
-		nvme_rdma_destroy_queue_ib(queue);
+		ret = 1;
 	}
 
-out:
-	return ctrl_deleted;
+	/* Queue controller deletion */
+	queue_work(nvme_rdma_wq, &ctrl->delete_work);
+	flush_work(&ctrl->delete_work);
+	return ret;
 }
 
 static int nvme_rdma_cm_handler(struct rdma_cm_id *cm_id,