diff --git a/net/smc/af_smc.c b/net/smc/af_smc.c
index e9f93b3ab435..221643624ace 100644
--- a/net/smc/af_smc.c
+++ b/net/smc/af_smc.c
@@ -665,8 +665,10 @@ static int smcr_clnt_conf_first_link(struct smc_sock *smc)
 	if (rc < 0)
 		return SMC_CLC_DECL_TIMEOUT_CL;
 
+	down_write(&link->lgr->llc_conf_mutex);
 	smc_llc_link_active(link);
 	smcr_lgr_set_type(link->lgr, SMC_LGR_SINGLE);
+	up_write(&link->lgr->llc_conf_mutex);
 
 	if (link->lgr->max_links > 1) {
 		/* optional 2nd link, receive ADD LINK request from server */
@@ -682,7 +684,9 @@ static int smcr_clnt_conf_first_link(struct smc_sock *smc)
 			return rc;
 		}
 		smc_llc_flow_qentry_clr(&link->lgr->llc_flow_lcl);
+		down_write(&link->lgr->llc_conf_mutex);
 		smc_llc_cli_add_link(link, qentry);
+		up_write(&link->lgr->llc_conf_mutex);
 	}
 	return 0;
 }
@@ -1909,8 +1913,10 @@ static int smcr_serv_conf_first_link(struct smc_sock *smc)
 	/* confirm_rkey is implicit on 1st contact */
 	smc->conn.rmb_desc->is_conf_rkey = true;
 
+	down_write(&link->lgr->llc_conf_mutex);
 	smc_llc_link_active(link);
 	smcr_lgr_set_type(link->lgr, SMC_LGR_SINGLE);
+	up_write(&link->lgr->llc_conf_mutex);
 
 	if (link->lgr->max_links > 1) {
 		down_write(&link->lgr->llc_conf_mutex);