diff --git a/drivers/scsi/lpfc/lpfc_els.c b/drivers/scsi/lpfc/lpfc_els.c
index deb9202307a94ce8ed6b181bd340b787f8173dcb..f659a4014da39728c7df2239eabd55fdb4a9825d 100644
--- a/drivers/scsi/lpfc/lpfc_els.c
+++ b/drivers/scsi/lpfc/lpfc_els.c
@@ -1484,10 +1484,12 @@ lpfc_initial_flogi(struct lpfc_vport *vport)
 	}
 
 	if (lpfc_issue_els_flogi(vport, ndlp, 0)) {
-		/* This decrement of reference count to node shall kick off
-		 * the release of the node.
+		/* A node reference should be retained while registered with a
+		 * transport or dev-loss-evt work is pending.
+		 * Otherwise, decrement node reference to trigger release.
 		 */
-		lpfc_nlp_put(ndlp);
+		if (!(ndlp->nlp_flag & NLP_IN_DEV_LOSS))
+			lpfc_nlp_put(ndlp);
 		return 0;
 	}
 	return 1;
@@ -1531,10 +1533,12 @@ lpfc_initial_fdisc(struct lpfc_vport *vport)
 	}
 
 	if (lpfc_issue_els_fdisc(vport, ndlp, 0)) {
-		/* decrement node reference count to trigger the release of
-		 * the node.
+		/* A node reference should be retained while registered with a
+		 * transport or dev-loss-evt work is pending.
+		 * Otherwise, decrement node reference to trigger release.
 		 */
-		lpfc_nlp_put(ndlp);
+		if (!(ndlp->nlp_flag & NLP_IN_DEV_LOSS))
+			lpfc_nlp_put(ndlp);
 		return 0;
 	}
 	return 1;