struct scsi_cmnd *cmnd = task->uldd_task;
                struct hisi_sas_slot *slot = task->lldd_task;
                u32 tag = slot->idx;
+               int rc2;
 
                int_to_scsilun(cmnd->device->lun, &lun);
                tmf_task.tmf = TMF_ABORT_TASK;
                rc = hisi_sas_debug_issue_ssp_tmf(task->dev, lun.scsi_lun,
                                                  &tmf_task);
 
-               /* if successful, clear the task and callback forwards.*/
-               if (rc == TMF_RESP_FUNC_COMPLETE) {
+               rc2 = hisi_sas_internal_task_abort(hisi_hba, device,
+                                                  HISI_SAS_INT_ABT_CMD, tag);
+               /*
+                * If the TMF finds that the IO is not in the device and also
+                * the internal abort does not succeed, then it is safe to
+                * free the slot.
+                * Note: if the internal abort succeeds then the slot
+                * will have already been completed
+                */
+               if (rc == TMF_RESP_FUNC_COMPLETE && rc2 != TMF_RESP_FUNC_SUCC) {
                        if (task->lldd_task) {
-                               struct hisi_sas_slot *slot;
-
-                               slot = &hisi_hba->slot_info
-                                       [tmf_task.tag_of_task_to_be_managed];
                                spin_lock_irqsave(&hisi_hba->lock, flags);
-                               hisi_hba->hw->slot_complete(hisi_hba, slot);
+                               hisi_sas_do_release_task(hisi_hba, task, slot);
                                spin_unlock_irqrestore(&hisi_hba->lock, flags);
                        }
                }
-
-               hisi_sas_internal_task_abort(hisi_hba, device,
-                                            HISI_SAS_INT_ABT_CMD, tag);
        } else if (task->task_proto & SAS_PROTOCOL_SATA ||
                task->task_proto & SAS_PROTOCOL_STP) {
                if (task->dev->dev_type == SAS_SATA_DEV) {
                goto exit;
        }
 
+       if (task->task_status.resp == SAS_TASK_COMPLETE &&
+               task->task_status.stat == TMF_RESP_FUNC_SUCC) {
+               res = TMF_RESP_FUNC_SUCC;
+               goto exit;
+       }
+
        /* TMF timed out, return direct. */
        if ((task->task_state_flags & SAS_TASK_STATE_ABORTED)) {
                if (!(task->task_state_flags & SAS_TASK_STATE_DONE)) {