lpfc_init_link(phba, pmb, phba->cfg_topology, phba->cfg_link_speed);
        pmb->mbox_cmpl = lpfc_sli_def_mbox_cmpl;
-       if (lpfc_sli_issue_mbox(phba, pmb, MBX_NOWAIT) != MBX_SUCCESS) {
+       rc = lpfc_sli_issue_mbox(phba, pmb, MBX_NOWAIT);
+       if (rc != MBX_SUCCESS) {
                lpfc_printf_log(phba,
                                KERN_ERR,
                                LOG_INIT,
                readl(phba->HAregaddr); /* flush */
 
                phba->hba_state = LPFC_HBA_ERROR;
-               mempool_free(pmb, phba->mbox_mem_pool);
+               if (rc != MBX_BUSY)
+                       mempool_free(pmb, phba->mbox_mem_pool);
                return -EIO;
        }
        /* MBOX buffer will be freed in mbox compl */