diff --git a/connection.c b/connection.c
index 7913f7e0..6d156965 100644
--- a/connection.c
+++ b/connection.c
@@ -137,6 +137,7 @@ void ksmbd_conn_enqueue_request(struct ksmbd_work *work)
 		requests_queue = &conn->requests;
 #endif
 
+	atomic_inc(&conn->req_running);
 	if (requests_queue) {
 		spin_lock(&conn->request_lock);
 		list_add_tail(&work->request_entry, requests_queue);
@@ -380,8 +381,7 @@ int ksmbd_conn_handler_loop(void *p)
 		conn->request_buf = NULL;
 
 recheck:
-		if (atomic_inc_return(&conn->req_running) > max_req) {
-			atomic_dec(&conn->req_running);
+		if (atomic_read(&conn->req_running) + 1 > max_req) {
 			wait_event_interruptible(conn->req_running_q,
 				atomic_read(&conn->req_running) < max_req);
 			goto recheck;