diff --git a/drivers/nvme/host/rdma.c b/drivers/nvme/host/rdma.c
index 99bf88eb812c58..6c07bb55b0f836 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/host/rdma.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/host/rdma.c
@@ -950,7 +950,15 @@ static int nvme_rdma_configure_io_queues(struct nvme_rdma_ctrl *ctrl, bool new)
 
 	if (!new) {
 		nvme_start_queues(&ctrl->ctrl);
-		nvme_wait_freeze(&ctrl->ctrl);
+		if (!nvme_wait_freeze_timeout(&ctrl->ctrl, NVME_IO_TIMEOUT)) {
+			/*
+			 * If we timed out waiting for freeze we are likely to
+			 * be stuck.  Fail the controller initialization just
+			 * to be safe.
+			 */
+			ret = -ENODEV;
+			goto out_wait_freeze_timed_out;
+		}
 		blk_mq_update_nr_hw_queues(ctrl->ctrl.tagset,
 			ctrl->ctrl.queue_count - 1);
 		nvme_unfreeze(&ctrl->ctrl);
@@ -958,6 +966,9 @@ static int nvme_rdma_configure_io_queues(struct nvme_rdma_ctrl *ctrl, bool new)
 
 	return 0;
 
+out_wait_freeze_timed_out:
+	nvme_stop_queues(&ctrl->ctrl);
+	nvme_rdma_stop_io_queues(ctrl);
 out_cleanup_connect_q:
 	if (new)
 		blk_cleanup_queue(ctrl->ctrl.connect_q);