diff --git a/drivers/misc/mei/amthif.c b/drivers/misc/mei/amthif.c
index b8deb3455480..0d6234db00fa 100644
--- a/drivers/misc/mei/amthif.c
+++ b/drivers/misc/mei/amthif.c
@@ -111,8 +111,6 @@ int mei_amthif_host_init(struct mei_device *dev)
 		return ret;
 	}
 
-	cl->state = MEI_FILE_CONNECTING;
-
 	ret = mei_cl_connect(cl, NULL);
 
 	dev->iamthif_state = MEI_IAMTHIF_IDLE;
diff --git a/drivers/misc/mei/bus.c b/drivers/misc/mei/bus.c
index d5b9ed4452ef..0e993ef28b94 100644
--- a/drivers/misc/mei/bus.c
+++ b/drivers/misc/mei/bus.c
@@ -427,8 +427,6 @@ int mei_cl_enable_device(struct mei_cl_device *device)
 
 	mutex_lock(&dev->device_lock);
 
-	cl->state = MEI_FILE_CONNECTING;
-
 	err = mei_cl_connect(cl, NULL);
 	if (err < 0) {
 		mutex_unlock(&dev->device_lock);
diff --git a/drivers/misc/mei/client.c b/drivers/misc/mei/client.c
index 3349f626aa88..59d20c599b16 100644
--- a/drivers/misc/mei/client.c
+++ b/drivers/misc/mei/client.c
@@ -597,6 +597,7 @@ int mei_cl_connect(struct mei_cl *cl, struct file *file)
 
 	/* run hbuf acquire last so we don't have to undo */
 	if (!mei_cl_is_other_connecting(cl) && mei_hbuf_acquire(dev)) {
+		cl->state = MEI_FILE_CONNECTING;
 		if (mei_hbm_cl_connect_req(dev, cl)) {
 			rets = -ENODEV;
 			goto out;
diff --git a/drivers/misc/mei/main.c b/drivers/misc/mei/main.c
index 147413145c97..66f0a1a06451 100644
--- a/drivers/misc/mei/main.c
+++ b/drivers/misc/mei/main.c
@@ -467,7 +467,6 @@ static int mei_ioctl_connect_client(struct file *file,
 	}
 
 	cl->me_client_id = dev->me_clients[i].client_id;
-	cl->state = MEI_FILE_CONNECTING;
 
 	dev_dbg(&dev->pdev->dev, "Connect to FW Client ID = %d\n",
 			cl->me_client_id);
diff --git a/drivers/misc/mei/wd.c b/drivers/misc/mei/wd.c
index ebf1cbc198fd..a84a664dfccb 100644
--- a/drivers/misc/mei/wd.c
+++ b/drivers/misc/mei/wd.c
@@ -84,8 +84,6 @@ int mei_wd_host_init(struct mei_device *dev)
 		return ret;
 	}
 
-	cl->state = MEI_FILE_CONNECTING;
-
 	ret = mei_cl_connect(cl, NULL);
 
 	if (ret) {