diff --git a/drivers/block/drbd/drbd_nl.c b/drivers/block/drbd/drbd_nl.c
index b4fc401..f4d3aff 100644
--- a/drivers/block/drbd/drbd_nl.c
+++ b/drivers/block/drbd/drbd_nl.c
@@ -442,12 +442,13 @@
 	char *ex_to_string;
 	int r;
 
+	spin_lock_irq(&connection->resource->req_lock);
 	if (connection->cstate >= C_WF_REPORT_PARAMS) {
 		drbd_err(connection, "Expected cstate < C_WF_REPORT_PARAMS\n");
+		spin_unlock_irq(&connection->resource->req_lock);
 		return false;
 	}
 
-	spin_lock_irq(&connection->resource->req_lock);
 	connect_cnt = connection->connect_cnt;
 	spin_unlock_irq(&connection->resource->req_lock);
 
diff --git a/include/linux/drbd.h b/include/linux/drbd.h
index fffd4b8..3dbe9bd 100644
--- a/include/linux/drbd.h
+++ b/include/linux/drbd.h
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@
 #endif
 
 extern const char *drbd_buildtag(void);
-#define REL_VERSION "8.4.4"
+#define REL_VERSION "8.4.3"
 #define API_VERSION 1
 #define PRO_VERSION_MIN 86
 #define PRO_VERSION_MAX 101