diff --git a/drivers/message/fusion/mptspi.c b/drivers/message/fusion/mptspi.c
index 25bcfcf36f2..1effca4e40e 100644
--- a/drivers/message/fusion/mptspi.c
+++ b/drivers/message/fusion/mptspi.c
@@ -1266,13 +1266,18 @@ mptspi_dv_renegotiate(struct _MPT_SCSI_HOST *hd)
 static int
 mptspi_ioc_reset(MPT_ADAPTER *ioc, int reset_phase)
 {
-	struct _MPT_SCSI_HOST *hd = shost_priv(ioc->sh);
 	int rc;
 
 	rc = mptscsih_ioc_reset(ioc, reset_phase);
 
-	if (reset_phase == MPT_IOC_POST_RESET)
+	/* only try to do a renegotiation if we're properly set up
+	 * if we get an ioc fault on bringup, ioc->sh will be NULL */
+	if (reset_phase == MPT_IOC_POST_RESET &&
+	    ioc->sh) {
+		struct _MPT_SCSI_HOST *hd = shost_priv(ioc->sh);
+
 		mptspi_dv_renegotiate(hd);
+	}
 
 	return rc;
 }