diff --git a/drivers/nvme/host/fc.c b/drivers/nvme/host/fc.c
index da801a14cd13..65b3dc9cd693 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/host/fc.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/host/fc.c
@@ -3319,12 +3319,14 @@ nvme_fc_create_ctrl(struct device *dev, struct nvmf_ctrl_options *opts)
 	spin_lock_irqsave(&nvme_fc_lock, flags);
 	list_for_each_entry(lport, &nvme_fc_lport_list, port_list) {
 		if (lport->localport.node_name != laddr.nn ||
-		    lport->localport.port_name != laddr.pn)
+		    lport->localport.port_name != laddr.pn ||
+		    lport->localport.port_state != FC_OBJSTATE_ONLINE)
 			continue;
 
 		list_for_each_entry(rport, &lport->endp_list, endp_list) {
 			if (rport->remoteport.node_name != raddr.nn ||
-			    rport->remoteport.port_name != raddr.pn)
+			    rport->remoteport.port_name != raddr.pn ||
+			    rport->remoteport.port_state != FC_OBJSTATE_ONLINE)
 				continue;
 
 			/* if fail to get reference fall through. Will error */