diff --git a/drivers/staging/hv/hv_kvp.c b/drivers/staging/hv/hv_kvp.c
index 9aa9ede0ee87..307aedc08a36 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/hv/hv_kvp.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/hv/hv_kvp.c
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ static struct {
 
 static int kvp_send_key(int index);
 
+#define TIMEOUT_FIRED 1
+
 static void kvp_respond_to_host(char *key, char *value, int error);
 static void kvp_work_func(struct work_struct *dummy);
 static void kvp_register(void);
@@ -58,7 +60,6 @@ static DECLARE_DELAYED_WORK(kvp_work, kvp_work_func);
 
 static struct cb_id kvp_id = { CN_KVP_IDX, CN_KVP_VAL };
 static const char kvp_name[] = "kvp_kernel_module";
-static int timeout_fired;
 static u8 *recv_buffer;
 /*
  * Register the kernel component with the user-level daemon.
@@ -90,8 +91,7 @@ kvp_work_func(struct work_struct *dummy)
 	 * If the timer fires, the user-mode component has not responded;
 	 * process the pending transaction.
 	 */
-	kvp_respond_to_host("Unknown key", "Guest timed out", timeout_fired);
-	timeout_fired = 1;
+	kvp_respond_to_host("Unknown key", "Guest timed out", TIMEOUT_FIRED);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -177,6 +177,8 @@ kvp_respond_to_host(char *key, char *value, int error)
 	channel = kvp_transaction.recv_channel;
 	req_id = kvp_transaction.recv_req_id;
 
+	kvp_transaction.active = false;
+
 	if (channel->onchannel_callback == NULL)
 		/*
 		 * We have raced with util driver being unloaded;
@@ -224,7 +226,6 @@ response_done:
 	vmbus_sendpacket(channel, recv_buffer, buf_len, req_id,
 				VM_PKT_DATA_INBAND, 0);
 
-	kvp_transaction.active = false;
 }
 
 /*
@@ -250,10 +251,6 @@ void hv_kvp_onchannelcallback(void *context)
 	struct icmsg_negotiate *negop = NULL;
 
 
-	if (kvp_transaction.active)
-		return;
-
-
 	vmbus_recvpacket(channel, recv_buffer, PAGE_SIZE, &recvlen, &requestid);
 
 	if (recvlen > 0) {