diff --git a/drivers/infiniband/hw/i40iw/i40iw_utils.c b/drivers/infiniband/hw/i40iw/i40iw_utils.c
index 0e8db0a35141..6fd043b1d714 100644
--- a/drivers/infiniband/hw/i40iw/i40iw_utils.c
+++ b/drivers/infiniband/hw/i40iw/i40iw_utils.c
@@ -673,8 +673,11 @@ enum i40iw_status_code i40iw_free_virt_mem(struct i40iw_hw *hw,
 {
 	if (!mem)
 		return I40IW_ERR_PARAM;
+	/*
+	 * mem->va points to the parent of mem, so both mem and mem->va
+	 * can not be touched once mem->va is freed
+	 */
 	kfree(mem->va);
-	mem->va = NULL;
 	return 0;
 }