diff --git a/drivers/scsi/lpfc/lpfc_els.c b/drivers/scsi/lpfc/lpfc_els.c
index cc0b4f2661ab..27e2f8136f73 100644
--- a/drivers/scsi/lpfc/lpfc_els.c
+++ b/drivers/scsi/lpfc/lpfc_els.c
@@ -1182,7 +1182,8 @@ lpfc_cmpl_els_flogi(struct lpfc_hba *phba, struct lpfc_iocbq *cmdiocb,
 	phba->fcf.fcf_flag &= ~FCF_DISCOVERY;
 	spin_unlock_irq(&phba->hbalock);
 
-	lpfc_nlp_put(ndlp);
+	if (!(ndlp->fc4_xpt_flags & (SCSI_XPT_REGD | NVME_XPT_REGD)))
+		lpfc_nlp_put(ndlp);
 	if (!lpfc_error_lost_link(irsp)) {
 		/* FLOGI failed, so just use loop map to make discovery list */
 		lpfc_disc_list_loopmap(vport);