diff --git a/net/ceph/messenger.c b/net/ceph/messenger.c
index 8ba0eee..0de041f 100644
--- a/net/ceph/messenger.c
+++ b/net/ceph/messenger.c
@@ -2296,10 +2296,11 @@ restart:
 			mutex_unlock(&con->mutex);
 			return;
 		} else {
-			con->ops->put(con);
 			dout("con_work %p FAILED to back off %lu\n", con,
 			     con->delay);
+			set_bit(CON_FLAG_BACKOFF, &con->flags);
 		}
+		goto done;
 	}
 
 	if (con->state == CON_STATE_STANDBY) {