diff --git a/drivers/nvme/target/tcp.c b/drivers/nvme/target/tcp.c
index 76b9eb438268..81574500a57c 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/target/tcp.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/target/tcp.c
@@ -1816,8 +1816,10 @@ static u16 nvmet_tcp_install_queue(struct nvmet_sq *sq)
 	}
 
 	queue->nr_cmds = sq->size * 2;
-	if (nvmet_tcp_alloc_cmds(queue))
+	if (nvmet_tcp_alloc_cmds(queue)) {
+		queue->nr_cmds = 0;
 		return NVME_SC_INTERNAL;
+	}
 	return 0;
 }