diff --git a/block/blk-merge.c b/block/blk-merge.c
index 5a244f0..e39cb24 100644
--- a/block/blk-merge.c
+++ b/block/blk-merge.c
@@ -403,6 +403,8 @@
 	if (blk_rq_cpu_valid(next))
 		req->cpu = next->cpu;
 
+	/* owner-ship of bio passed from next to req */
+	next->bio = NULL;
 	__blk_put_request(q, next);
 	return 1;
 }