diff --git a/drivers/nvme/target/configfs.c b/drivers/nvme/target/configfs.c
index 37e1d7784e17..9aed5cc71096 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/target/configfs.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/target/configfs.c
@@ -1462,6 +1462,8 @@ static void nvmet_port_release(struct config_item *item)
 {
 	struct nvmet_port *port = to_nvmet_port(item);
 
+	/* Let inflight controllers teardown complete */
+	flush_scheduled_work();
 	list_del(&port->global_entry);
 
 	kfree(port->ana_state);