}
 }
 
+static struct _sas_device *
+__mpt3sas_get_sdev_from_target(struct MPT3SAS_ADAPTER *ioc,
+               struct MPT3SAS_TARGET *tgt_priv)
+{
+       struct _sas_device *ret;
+
+       assert_spin_locked(&ioc->sas_device_lock);
+
+       ret = tgt_priv->sdev;
+       if (ret)
+               sas_device_get(ret);
+
+       return ret;
+}
+
+static struct _sas_device *
+mpt3sas_get_sdev_from_target(struct MPT3SAS_ADAPTER *ioc,
+               struct MPT3SAS_TARGET *tgt_priv)
+{
+       struct _sas_device *ret;
+       unsigned long flags;
+
+       spin_lock_irqsave(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
+       ret = __mpt3sas_get_sdev_from_target(ioc, tgt_priv);
+       spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
+
+       return ret;
+}
+
+
+struct _sas_device *
+__mpt3sas_get_sdev_by_addr(struct MPT3SAS_ADAPTER *ioc,
+                                       u64 sas_address)
+{
+       struct _sas_device *sas_device;
+
+       assert_spin_locked(&ioc->sas_device_lock);
+
+       list_for_each_entry(sas_device, &ioc->sas_device_list, list)
+               if (sas_device->sas_address == sas_address)
+                       goto found_device;
+
+       list_for_each_entry(sas_device, &ioc->sas_device_init_list, list)
+               if (sas_device->sas_address == sas_address)
+                       goto found_device;
+
+       return NULL;
+
+found_device:
+       sas_device_get(sas_device);
+       return sas_device;
+}
+
 /**
- * mpt3sas_scsih_sas_device_find_by_sas_address - sas device search
+ * mpt3sas_get_sdev_by_addr - sas device search
  * @ioc: per adapter object
  * @sas_address: sas address
  * Context: Calling function should acquire ioc->sas_device_lock
  * object.
  */
 struct _sas_device *
-mpt3sas_scsih_sas_device_find_by_sas_address(struct MPT3SAS_ADAPTER *ioc,
+mpt3sas_get_sdev_by_addr(struct MPT3SAS_ADAPTER *ioc,
        u64 sas_address)
 {
        struct _sas_device *sas_device;
+       unsigned long flags;
+
+       spin_lock_irqsave(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
+       sas_device = __mpt3sas_get_sdev_by_addr(ioc,
+                       sas_address);
+       spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
+
+       return sas_device;
+}
+
+static struct _sas_device *
+__mpt3sas_get_sdev_by_handle(struct MPT3SAS_ADAPTER *ioc, u16 handle)
+{
+       struct _sas_device *sas_device;
+
+       assert_spin_locked(&ioc->sas_device_lock);
 
        list_for_each_entry(sas_device, &ioc->sas_device_list, list)
-               if (sas_device->sas_address == sas_address)
-                       return sas_device;
+               if (sas_device->handle == handle)
+                       goto found_device;
 
        list_for_each_entry(sas_device, &ioc->sas_device_init_list, list)
-               if (sas_device->sas_address == sas_address)
-                       return sas_device;
+               if (sas_device->handle == handle)
+                       goto found_device;
 
        return NULL;
+
+found_device:
+       sas_device_get(sas_device);
+       return sas_device;
 }
 
 /**
- * _scsih_sas_device_find_by_handle - sas device search
+ * mpt3sas_get_sdev_by_handle - sas device search
  * @ioc: per adapter object
  * @handle: sas device handle (assigned by firmware)
  * Context: Calling function should acquire ioc->sas_device_lock
  * object.
  */
 static struct _sas_device *
-_scsih_sas_device_find_by_handle(struct MPT3SAS_ADAPTER *ioc, u16 handle)
+mpt3sas_get_sdev_by_handle(struct MPT3SAS_ADAPTER *ioc, u16 handle)
 {
        struct _sas_device *sas_device;
+       unsigned long flags;
 
-       list_for_each_entry(sas_device, &ioc->sas_device_list, list)
-               if (sas_device->handle == handle)
-                       return sas_device;
-
-       list_for_each_entry(sas_device, &ioc->sas_device_init_list, list)
-               if (sas_device->handle == handle)
-                       return sas_device;
+       spin_lock_irqsave(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
+       sas_device = __mpt3sas_get_sdev_by_handle(ioc, handle);
+       spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
 
-       return NULL;
+       return sas_device;
 }
 
 /**
  * @sas_device: the sas_device object
  * Context: This function will acquire ioc->sas_device_lock.
  *
- * Removing object and freeing associated memory from the ioc->sas_device_list.
+ * If sas_device is on the list, remove it and decrement its reference count.
  */
 static void
 _scsih_sas_device_remove(struct MPT3SAS_ADAPTER *ioc,
                   ioc->name, sas_device->enclosure_level,
                   sas_device->connector_name);
 
+       /*
+        * The lock serializes access to the list, but we still need to verify
+        * that nobody removed the entry while we were waiting on the lock.
+        */
        spin_lock_irqsave(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
-       list_del(&sas_device->list);
-       kfree(sas_device);
+       if (!list_empty(&sas_device->list)) {
+               list_del_init(&sas_device->list);
+               sas_device_put(sas_device);
+       }
        spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
 }
 
                return;
 
        spin_lock_irqsave(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
-       sas_device = _scsih_sas_device_find_by_handle(ioc, handle);
-       if (sas_device)
-               list_del(&sas_device->list);
+       sas_device = __mpt3sas_get_sdev_by_handle(ioc, handle);
+       if (sas_device) {
+               list_del_init(&sas_device->list);
+               sas_device_put(sas_device);
+       }
        spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
-       if (sas_device)
+       if (sas_device) {
                _scsih_remove_device(ioc, sas_device);
+               sas_device_put(sas_device);
+       }
 }
 
 /**
                return;
 
        spin_lock_irqsave(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
-       sas_device = mpt3sas_scsih_sas_device_find_by_sas_address(ioc,
-           sas_address);
-       if (sas_device)
-               list_del(&sas_device->list);
+       sas_device = __mpt3sas_get_sdev_by_addr(ioc, sas_address);
+       if (sas_device) {
+               list_del_init(&sas_device->list);
+               sas_device_put(sas_device);
+       }
        spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
-       if (sas_device)
+       if (sas_device) {
                _scsih_remove_device(ioc, sas_device);
+               sas_device_put(sas_device);
+       }
 }
 
 /**
                    sas_device->enclosure_level, sas_device->connector_name));
 
        spin_lock_irqsave(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
+       sas_device_get(sas_device);
        list_add_tail(&sas_device->list, &ioc->sas_device_list);
        spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
 
                    sas_device->connector_name));
 
        spin_lock_irqsave(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
+       sas_device_get(sas_device);
        list_add_tail(&sas_device->list, &ioc->sas_device_init_list);
        _scsih_determine_boot_device(ioc, sas_device, 0);
        spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
                goto not_sata;
        if ((sas_target_priv_data->flags & MPT_TARGET_FLAGS_VOLUME))
                goto not_sata;
+
        spin_lock_irqsave(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
-       sas_device = mpt3sas_scsih_sas_device_find_by_sas_address(ioc,
-          sas_device_priv_data->sas_target->sas_address);
-       if (sas_device && sas_device->device_info &
-           MPI2_SAS_DEVICE_INFO_SATA_DEVICE)
-               max_depth = MPT3SAS_SATA_QUEUE_DEPTH;
+       sas_device = __mpt3sas_get_sdev_from_target(ioc, sas_target_priv_data);
+       if (sas_device) {
+               if (sas_device->device_info & MPI2_SAS_DEVICE_INFO_SATA_DEVICE)
+                       max_depth = MPT3SAS_SATA_QUEUE_DEPTH;
+
+               sas_device_put(sas_device);
+       }
        spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
 
  not_sata:
        /* sas/sata devices */
        spin_lock_irqsave(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
        rphy = dev_to_rphy(starget->dev.parent);
-       sas_device = mpt3sas_scsih_sas_device_find_by_sas_address(ioc,
+       sas_device = __mpt3sas_get_sdev_by_addr(ioc,
           rphy->identify.sas_address);
 
        if (sas_device) {
                sas_target_priv_data->handle = sas_device->handle;
                sas_target_priv_data->sas_address = sas_device->sas_address;
+               sas_target_priv_data->sdev = sas_device;
                sas_device->starget = starget;
                sas_device->id = starget->id;
                sas_device->channel = starget->channel;
 
        spin_lock_irqsave(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
        rphy = dev_to_rphy(starget->dev.parent);
-       sas_device = mpt3sas_scsih_sas_device_find_by_sas_address(ioc,
-          rphy->identify.sas_address);
+       sas_device = __mpt3sas_get_sdev_from_target(ioc, sas_target_priv_data);
        if (sas_device && (sas_device->starget == starget) &&
            (sas_device->id == starget->id) &&
            (sas_device->channel == starget->channel))
                sas_device->starget = NULL;
 
+       if (sas_device) {
+               /*
+                * Corresponding get() is in _scsih_target_alloc()
+                */
+               sas_target_priv_data->sdev = NULL;
+               sas_device_put(sas_device);
+
+               sas_device_put(sas_device);
+       }
        spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
 
  out:
 
        if (!(sas_target_priv_data->flags & MPT_TARGET_FLAGS_VOLUME)) {
                spin_lock_irqsave(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
-               sas_device = mpt3sas_scsih_sas_device_find_by_sas_address(ioc,
+               sas_device = __mpt3sas_get_sdev_by_addr(ioc,
                                        sas_target_priv_data->sas_address);
                if (sas_device && (sas_device->starget == NULL)) {
                        sdev_printk(KERN_INFO, sdev,
                        "%s : sas_device->starget set to starget @ %d\n",
-                               __func__, __LINE__);
+                            __func__, __LINE__);
                        sas_device->starget = starget;
                }
+
+               if (sas_device)
+                       sas_device_put(sas_device);
+
                spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
        }
 
 
        if (!(sas_target_priv_data->flags & MPT_TARGET_FLAGS_VOLUME)) {
                spin_lock_irqsave(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
-               sas_device = mpt3sas_scsih_sas_device_find_by_sas_address(ioc,
-                  sas_target_priv_data->sas_address);
+               sas_device = __mpt3sas_get_sdev_from_target(ioc,
+                               sas_target_priv_data);
                if (sas_device && !sas_target_priv_data->num_luns)
                        sas_device->starget = NULL;
+
+               if (sas_device)
+                       sas_device_put(sas_device);
                spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
        }
 
        }
 
        spin_lock_irqsave(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
-       sas_device = mpt3sas_scsih_sas_device_find_by_sas_address(ioc,
+       sas_device = __mpt3sas_get_sdev_by_addr(ioc,
           sas_device_priv_data->sas_target->sas_address);
        if (!sas_device) {
                spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
                     ds, sas_device->enclosure_level,
                     sas_device->connector_name);
 
+       sas_device_put(sas_device);
        spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
 
        if (!ssp_target)
                    device_str, (unsigned long long)priv_target->sas_address);
        } else {
                spin_lock_irqsave(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
-               sas_device = mpt3sas_scsih_sas_device_find_by_sas_address(ioc,
-                   priv_target->sas_address);
+               sas_device = __mpt3sas_get_sdev_from_target(ioc, priv_target);
                if (sas_device) {
                        if (priv_target->flags &
                            MPT_TARGET_FLAGS_RAID_COMPONENT) {
                                "enclosure level(0x%04x),connector name(%s)\n",
                                 sas_device->enclosure_level,
                                 sas_device->connector_name);
+
+                       sas_device_put(sas_device);
                }
                spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
        }
 {
        struct MPT3SAS_ADAPTER *ioc = shost_priv(scmd->device->host);
        struct MPT3SAS_DEVICE *sas_device_priv_data;
-       struct _sas_device *sas_device;
-       unsigned long flags;
+       struct _sas_device *sas_device = NULL;
        u16     handle;
        int r;
 
+       struct scsi_target *starget = scmd->device->sdev_target;
+       struct MPT3SAS_TARGET *target_priv_data = starget->hostdata;
+
        sdev_printk(KERN_INFO, scmd->device,
                "attempting device reset! scmd(%p)\n", scmd);
        _scsih_tm_display_info(ioc, scmd);
        handle = 0;
        if (sas_device_priv_data->sas_target->flags &
            MPT_TARGET_FLAGS_RAID_COMPONENT) {
-               spin_lock_irqsave(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
-               sas_device = _scsih_sas_device_find_by_handle(ioc,
-                  sas_device_priv_data->sas_target->handle);
+               sas_device = mpt3sas_get_sdev_from_target(ioc,
+                               target_priv_data);
                if (sas_device)
                        handle = sas_device->volume_handle;
-               spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
        } else
                handle = sas_device_priv_data->sas_target->handle;
 
  out:
        sdev_printk(KERN_INFO, scmd->device, "device reset: %s scmd(%p)\n",
            ((r == SUCCESS) ? "SUCCESS" : "FAILED"), scmd);
+
+       if (sas_device)
+               sas_device_put(sas_device);
+
        return r;
 }
 
 {
        struct MPT3SAS_ADAPTER *ioc = shost_priv(scmd->device->host);
        struct MPT3SAS_DEVICE *sas_device_priv_data;
-       struct _sas_device *sas_device;
-       unsigned long flags;
+       struct _sas_device *sas_device = NULL;
        u16     handle;
        int r;
        struct scsi_target *starget = scmd->device->sdev_target;
+       struct MPT3SAS_TARGET *target_priv_data = starget->hostdata;
 
        starget_printk(KERN_INFO, starget, "attempting target reset! scmd(%p)\n",
                scmd);
        handle = 0;
        if (sas_device_priv_data->sas_target->flags &
            MPT_TARGET_FLAGS_RAID_COMPONENT) {
-               spin_lock_irqsave(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
-               sas_device = _scsih_sas_device_find_by_handle(ioc,
-                  sas_device_priv_data->sas_target->handle);
+               sas_device = mpt3sas_get_sdev_from_target(ioc,
+                               target_priv_data);
                if (sas_device)
                        handle = sas_device->volume_handle;
-               spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
        } else
                handle = sas_device_priv_data->sas_target->handle;
 
  out:
        starget_printk(KERN_INFO, starget, "target reset: %s scmd(%p)\n",
            ((r == SUCCESS) ? "SUCCESS" : "FAILED"), scmd);
+
+       if (sas_device)
+               sas_device_put(sas_device);
+
        return r;
 }
 
        struct scsi_device *sdev;
        struct _sas_device *sas_device;
 
-       sas_device = _scsih_sas_device_find_by_handle(ioc, handle);
+       sas_device = mpt3sas_get_sdev_by_handle(ioc, handle);
        if (!sas_device)
                return;
 
                        continue;
                _scsih_internal_device_block(sdev, sas_device_priv_data);
        }
+
+       sas_device_put(sas_device);
 }
 
 /**
                if (mpt3sas_port->remote_identify.device_type ==
                    SAS_END_DEVICE) {
                        spin_lock_irqsave(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
-                       sas_device =
-                           mpt3sas_scsih_sas_device_find_by_sas_address(ioc,
-                          mpt3sas_port->remote_identify.sas_address);
-                       if (sas_device)
+                       sas_device = __mpt3sas_get_sdev_by_addr(ioc,
+                           mpt3sas_port->remote_identify.sas_address);
+                       if (sas_device) {
                                set_bit(sas_device->handle,
-                                   ioc->blocking_handles);
+                                               ioc->blocking_handles);
+                               sas_device_put(sas_device);
+                       }
                        spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
                }
        }
 {
        Mpi2SCSITaskManagementRequest_t *mpi_request;
        u16 smid;
-       struct _sas_device *sas_device;
+       struct _sas_device *sas_device = NULL;
        struct MPT3SAS_TARGET *sas_target_priv_data = NULL;
        u64 sas_address = 0;
        unsigned long flags;
                return;
 
        spin_lock_irqsave(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
-       sas_device = _scsih_sas_device_find_by_handle(ioc, handle);
+       sas_device = __mpt3sas_get_sdev_by_handle(ioc, handle);
        if (sas_device && sas_device->starget &&
            sas_device->starget->hostdata) {
                sas_target_priv_data = sas_device->starget->hostdata;
        if (!smid) {
                delayed_tr = kzalloc(sizeof(*delayed_tr), GFP_ATOMIC);
                if (!delayed_tr)
-                       return;
+                       goto out;
                INIT_LIST_HEAD(&delayed_tr->list);
                delayed_tr->handle = handle;
                list_add_tail(&delayed_tr->list, &ioc->delayed_tr_list);
                dewtprintk(ioc, pr_info(MPT3SAS_FMT
                    "DELAYED:tr:handle(0x%04x), (open)\n",
                    ioc->name, handle));
-               return;
+               goto out;
        }
 
        dewtprintk(ioc, pr_info(MPT3SAS_FMT
        mpi_request->TaskType = MPI2_SCSITASKMGMT_TASKTYPE_TARGET_RESET;
        mpt3sas_base_put_smid_hi_priority(ioc, smid);
        mpt3sas_trigger_master(ioc, MASTER_TRIGGER_DEVICE_REMOVAL);
+
+out:
+       if (sas_device)
+               sas_device_put(sas_device);
 }
 
 /**
        char *desc_scsi_state = ioc->tmp_string;
        u32 log_info = le32_to_cpu(mpi_reply->IOCLogInfo);
        struct _sas_device *sas_device = NULL;
-       unsigned long flags;
        struct scsi_target *starget = scmd->device->sdev_target;
        struct MPT3SAS_TARGET *priv_target = starget->hostdata;
        char *device_str = NULL;
                pr_warn(MPT3SAS_FMT "\t%s wwid(0x%016llx)\n", ioc->name,
                    device_str, (unsigned long long)priv_target->sas_address);
        } else {
-               spin_lock_irqsave(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
-               sas_device = mpt3sas_scsih_sas_device_find_by_sas_address(ioc,
-                   priv_target->sas_address);
+               sas_device = mpt3sas_get_sdev_from_target(ioc, priv_target);
                if (sas_device) {
                        pr_warn(MPT3SAS_FMT
                                "\tsas_address(0x%016llx), phy(%d)\n",
                                  " connector name( %s)\n", ioc->name,
                                  sas_device->enclosure_level,
                                  sas_device->connector_name);
+
+                       sas_device_put(sas_device);
                }
-               spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
        }
 
        pr_warn(MPT3SAS_FMT
        Mpi2SepRequest_t mpi_request;
        struct _sas_device *sas_device;
 
-       sas_device = _scsih_sas_device_find_by_handle(ioc, handle);
+       sas_device = mpt3sas_get_sdev_by_handle(ioc, handle);
        if (!sas_device)
                return;
 
            &mpi_request)) != 0) {
                pr_err(MPT3SAS_FMT "failure at %s:%d/%s()!\n", ioc->name,
                __FILE__, __LINE__, __func__);
-               return;
+               goto out;
        }
        sas_device->pfa_led_on = 1;
 
                        "enclosure_processor: ioc_status (0x%04x), loginfo(0x%08x)\n",
                        ioc->name, le16_to_cpu(mpi_reply.IOCStatus),
                    le32_to_cpu(mpi_reply.IOCLogInfo)));
-               return;
+               goto out;
        }
+out:
+       sas_device_put(sas_device);
 }
+
 /**
  * _scsih_turn_off_pfa_led - turn off Fault LED
  * @ioc: per adapter object
                return;
        }
 }
+
 /**
  * _scsih_send_event_to_turn_on_pfa_led - fire delayed event
  * @ioc: per adapter object
 
        /* only handle non-raid devices */
        spin_lock_irqsave(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
-       sas_device = _scsih_sas_device_find_by_handle(ioc, handle);
-       if (!sas_device) {
-               spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
-               return;
-       }
+       sas_device = __mpt3sas_get_sdev_by_handle(ioc, handle);
+       if (!sas_device)
+               goto out_unlock;
+
        starget = sas_device->starget;
        sas_target_priv_data = starget->hostdata;
 
        if ((sas_target_priv_data->flags & MPT_TARGET_FLAGS_RAID_COMPONENT) ||
-          ((sas_target_priv_data->flags & MPT_TARGET_FLAGS_VOLUME))) {
-               spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
-               return;
-       }
+          ((sas_target_priv_data->flags & MPT_TARGET_FLAGS_VOLUME)))
+               goto out_unlock;
+
        if (sas_device->enclosure_handle != 0)
                starget_printk(KERN_INFO, starget, "predicted fault, "
                        "enclosure logical id(0x%016llx), slot(%d)\n",
        if (!event_reply) {
                pr_err(MPT3SAS_FMT "failure at %s:%d/%s()!\n",
                    ioc->name, __FILE__, __LINE__, __func__);
-               return;
+               goto out;
        }
 
        event_reply->Function = MPI2_FUNCTION_EVENT_NOTIFICATION;
        event_data->SASAddress = cpu_to_le64(sas_target_priv_data->sas_address);
        mpt3sas_ctl_add_to_event_log(ioc, event_reply);
        kfree(event_reply);
+out:
+       if (sas_device)
+               sas_device_put(sas_device);
+       return;
+
+out_unlock:
+       spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
+       goto out;
 }
 
 /**
 
        spin_lock_irqsave(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
        sas_address = le64_to_cpu(sas_device_pg0.SASAddress);
-       sas_device = mpt3sas_scsih_sas_device_find_by_sas_address(ioc,
+       sas_device = __mpt3sas_get_sdev_by_addr(ioc,
            sas_address);
 
-       if (!sas_device) {
-               spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
-               return;
-       }
+       if (!sas_device)
+               goto out_unlock;
 
        if (unlikely(sas_device->handle != handle)) {
                starget = sas_device->starget;
                pr_err(MPT3SAS_FMT
                        "device is not present handle(0x%04x), flags!!!\n",
                        ioc->name, handle);
-               spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
-               return;
+               goto out_unlock;
        }
 
        /* check if there were any issues with discovery */
        if (_scsih_check_access_status(ioc, sas_address, handle,
-           sas_device_pg0.AccessStatus)) {
-               spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
-               return;
-       }
+           sas_device_pg0.AccessStatus))
+               goto out_unlock;
 
        spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
        _scsih_ublock_io_device(ioc, sas_address);
 
+       if (sas_device)
+               sas_device_put(sas_device);
+       return;
+
+out_unlock:
+       spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
+       if (sas_device)
+               sas_device_put(sas_device);
 }
 
 /**
        u32 ioc_status;
        u64 sas_address;
        u32 device_info;
-       unsigned long flags;
 
        if ((mpt3sas_config_get_sas_device_pg0(ioc, &mpi_reply, &sas_device_pg0,
            MPI2_SAS_DEVICE_PGAD_FORM_HANDLE, handle))) {
            sas_device_pg0.AccessStatus))
                return -1;
 
-       spin_lock_irqsave(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
-       sas_device = mpt3sas_scsih_sas_device_find_by_sas_address(ioc,
-           sas_address);
-       spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
-
-       if (sas_device)
+       sas_device = mpt3sas_get_sdev_by_addr(ioc,
+                                       sas_address);
+       if (sas_device) {
+               sas_device_put(sas_device);
                return -1;
+       }
 
        sas_device = kzalloc(sizeof(struct _sas_device),
            GFP_KERNEL);
                return 0;
        }
 
+       kref_init(&sas_device->refcount);
        sas_device->handle = handle;
        if (_scsih_get_sas_address(ioc,
            le16_to_cpu(sas_device_pg0.ParentDevHandle),
        else
                _scsih_sas_device_add(ioc, sas_device);
 
+       sas_device_put(sas_device);
        return 0;
 }
 
                    "%s: exit: enclosure level(0x%04x), connector name(%s)\n",
                    ioc->name, __func__, sas_device->enclosure_level,
                    sas_device->connector_name));
-
-       kfree(sas_device);
 }
 
 /**
 
        spin_lock_irqsave(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
        sas_address = le64_to_cpu(event_data->SASAddress);
-       sas_device = mpt3sas_scsih_sas_device_find_by_sas_address(ioc,
+       sas_device = __mpt3sas_get_sdev_by_addr(ioc,
            sas_address);
 
-       if (!sas_device || !sas_device->starget) {
-               spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
-               return;
-       }
+       if (!sas_device || !sas_device->starget)
+               goto out;
 
        target_priv_data = sas_device->starget->hostdata;
-       if (!target_priv_data) {
-               spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
-               return;
-       }
+       if (!target_priv_data)
+               goto out;
 
        if (event_data->ReasonCode ==
            MPI2_EVENT_SAS_DEV_STAT_RC_INTERNAL_DEVICE_RESET)
                target_priv_data->tm_busy = 1;
        else
                target_priv_data->tm_busy = 0;
+
+out:
+       if (sas_device)
+               sas_device_put(sas_device);
+
        spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
+
 }
 
 /**
        u16 handle = le16_to_cpu(element->PhysDiskDevHandle);
 
        spin_lock_irqsave(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
-       sas_device = _scsih_sas_device_find_by_handle(ioc, handle);
+       sas_device = __mpt3sas_get_sdev_by_handle(ioc, handle);
        if (sas_device) {
                sas_device->volume_handle = 0;
                sas_device->volume_wwid = 0;
        /* exposing raid component */
        if (starget)
                starget_for_each_device(starget, NULL, _scsih_reprobe_lun);
+
+       sas_device_put(sas_device);
 }
 
 /**
                    &volume_wwid);
 
        spin_lock_irqsave(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
-       sas_device = _scsih_sas_device_find_by_handle(ioc, handle);
+       sas_device = __mpt3sas_get_sdev_by_handle(ioc, handle);
        if (sas_device) {
                set_bit(handle, ioc->pd_handles);
                if (sas_device->starget && sas_device->starget->hostdata) {
 #endif
        if (starget)
                starget_for_each_device(starget, (void *)1, _scsih_reprobe_lun);
+
+       sas_device_put(sas_device);
 }
 
 /**
        Mpi2EventIrConfigElement_t *element)
 {
        struct _sas_device *sas_device;
-       unsigned long flags;
        u16 handle = le16_to_cpu(element->PhysDiskDevHandle);
        Mpi2ConfigReply_t mpi_reply;
        Mpi2SasDevicePage0_t sas_device_pg0;
 
        set_bit(handle, ioc->pd_handles);
 
-       spin_lock_irqsave(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
-       sas_device = _scsih_sas_device_find_by_handle(ioc, handle);
-       spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
+       sas_device = mpt3sas_get_sdev_by_handle(ioc, handle);
        if (sas_device) {
 #ifndef SCSI_MPT2SAS
                _scsih_ir_fastpath(ioc, handle, element->PhysDiskNum);
 #endif
+               sas_device_put(sas_device);
                return;
        }
 
        u16 handle, parent_handle;
        u32 state;
        struct _sas_device *sas_device;
-       unsigned long flags;
        Mpi2ConfigReply_t mpi_reply;
        Mpi2SasDevicePage0_t sas_device_pg0;
        u32 ioc_status;
 
                if (!ioc->is_warpdrive)
                        set_bit(handle, ioc->pd_handles);
-               spin_lock_irqsave(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
-               sas_device = _scsih_sas_device_find_by_handle(ioc, handle);
-               spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
 
-               if (sas_device)
+               sas_device = mpt3sas_get_sdev_by_handle(ioc, handle);
+               if (sas_device) {
+                       sas_device_put(sas_device);
                        return;
+               }
 
                if ((mpt3sas_config_get_sas_device_pg0(ioc, &mpi_reply,
                    &sas_device_pg0, MPI2_SAS_DEVICE_PGAD_FORM_HANDLE,
        struct _raid_device *raid_device, *raid_device_next;
        struct list_head tmp_list;
        unsigned long flags;
+       LIST_HEAD(head);
 
        pr_info(MPT3SAS_FMT "removing unresponding devices: start\n",
            ioc->name);
        /* removing unresponding end devices */
        pr_info(MPT3SAS_FMT "removing unresponding devices: end-devices\n",
            ioc->name);
+       /*
+        * Iterate, pulling off devices marked as non-responding. We become the
+        * owner for the reference the list had on any object we prune.
+        */
+       spin_lock_irqsave(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
        list_for_each_entry_safe(sas_device, sas_device_next,
            &ioc->sas_device_list, list) {
                if (!sas_device->responding)
-                       mpt3sas_device_remove_by_sas_address(ioc,
-                           sas_device->sas_address);
+                       list_move_tail(&sas_device->list, &head);
                else
                        sas_device->responding = 0;
        }
+       spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
+
+       /*
+        * Now, uninitialize and remove the unresponding devices we pruned.
+        */
+       list_for_each_entry_safe(sas_device, sas_device_next, &head, list) {
+               _scsih_remove_device(ioc, sas_device);
+               list_del_init(&sas_device->list);
+               sas_device_put(sas_device);
+       }
 
        /* removing unresponding volumes */
        if (ioc->ir_firmware) {
                }
                phys_disk_num = pd_pg0.PhysDiskNum;
                handle = le16_to_cpu(pd_pg0.DevHandle);
-               spin_lock_irqsave(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
-               sas_device = _scsih_sas_device_find_by_handle(ioc, handle);
-               spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
-               if (sas_device)
+               sas_device = mpt3sas_get_sdev_by_handle(ioc, handle);
+               if (sas_device) {
+                       sas_device_put(sas_device);
                        continue;
+               }
                if (mpt3sas_config_get_sas_device_pg0(ioc, &mpi_reply,
                    &sas_device_pg0, MPI2_SAS_DEVICE_PGAD_FORM_HANDLE,
                    handle) != 0)
                if (!(_scsih_is_end_device(
                    le32_to_cpu(sas_device_pg0.DeviceInfo))))
                        continue;
-               spin_lock_irqsave(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
-               sas_device = mpt3sas_scsih_sas_device_find_by_sas_address(ioc,
+               sas_device = mpt3sas_get_sdev_by_addr(ioc,
                    le64_to_cpu(sas_device_pg0.SASAddress));
-               spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
-               if (sas_device)
+               if (sas_device) {
+                       sas_device_put(sas_device);
                        continue;
+               }
                parent_handle = le16_to_cpu(sas_device_pg0.ParentDevHandle);
                if (!_scsih_get_sas_address(ioc, parent_handle, &sas_address)) {
                        pr_info(MPT3SAS_FMT "\tBEFORE adding end device: " \
        }
 }
 
+static struct _sas_device *get_next_sas_device(struct MPT3SAS_ADAPTER *ioc)
+{
+       struct _sas_device *sas_device = NULL;
+       unsigned long flags;
+
+       spin_lock_irqsave(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
+       if (!list_empty(&ioc->sas_device_init_list)) {
+               sas_device = list_first_entry(&ioc->sas_device_init_list,
+                               struct _sas_device, list);
+               sas_device_get(sas_device);
+       }
+       spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
+
+       return sas_device;
+}
+
+static void sas_device_make_active(struct MPT3SAS_ADAPTER *ioc,
+               struct _sas_device *sas_device)
+{
+       unsigned long flags;
+
+       spin_lock_irqsave(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
+
+       /*
+        * Since we dropped the lock during the call to port_add(), we need to
+        * be careful here that somebody else didn't move or delete this item
+        * while we were busy with other things.
+        *
+        * If it was on the list, we need a put() for the reference the list
+        * had. Either way, we need a get() for the destination list.
+        */
+       if (!list_empty(&sas_device->list)) {
+               list_del_init(&sas_device->list);
+               sas_device_put(sas_device);
+       }
+
+       sas_device_get(sas_device);
+       list_add_tail(&sas_device->list, &ioc->sas_device_list);
+
+       spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
+}
+
 /**
  * _scsih_probe_sas - reporting sas devices to sas transport
  * @ioc: per adapter object
 static void
 _scsih_probe_sas(struct MPT3SAS_ADAPTER *ioc)
 {
-       struct _sas_device *sas_device, *next;
-       unsigned long flags;
-
-       /* SAS Device List */
-       list_for_each_entry_safe(sas_device, next, &ioc->sas_device_init_list,
-           list) {
+       struct _sas_device *sas_device;
 
-               if (ioc->hide_drives)
-                       return;
+       if (ioc->hide_drives)
+               return;
 
+       while ((sas_device = get_next_sas_device(ioc))) {
                if (!mpt3sas_transport_port_add(ioc, sas_device->handle,
                    sas_device->sas_address_parent)) {
-                       list_del(&sas_device->list);
-                       kfree(sas_device);
+                       _scsih_sas_device_remove(ioc, sas_device);
+                       sas_device_put(sas_device);
                        continue;
                } else if (!sas_device->starget) {
                        /*
                                mpt3sas_transport_port_remove(ioc,
                                    sas_device->sas_address,
                                    sas_device->sas_address_parent);
-                               list_del(&sas_device->list);
-                               kfree(sas_device);
+                               _scsih_sas_device_remove(ioc, sas_device);
+                               sas_device_put(sas_device);
                                continue;
                        }
                }
-
-               spin_lock_irqsave(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
-               list_move_tail(&sas_device->list, &ioc->sas_device_list);
-               spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ioc->sas_device_lock, flags);
+               sas_device_make_active(ioc, sas_device);
+               sas_device_put(sas_device);
        }
 }