diff --git a/fs/xfs/xfs_log_recover.c b/fs/xfs/xfs_log_recover.c
index 04961ebf16ea2..3d844a250b710 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/xfs_log_recover.c
+++ b/fs/xfs/xfs_log_recover.c
@@ -2560,6 +2560,7 @@ xlog_recover_process_intents(
 	for (lip = xfs_trans_ail_cursor_first(ailp, &cur, 0);
 	     lip != NULL;
 	     lip = xfs_trans_ail_cursor_next(ailp, &cur)) {
+		const struct xfs_item_ops	*ops;
 		/*
 		 * We're done when we see something other than an intent.
 		 * There should be no intents left in the AIL now.
@@ -2584,13 +2585,17 @@ xlog_recover_process_intents(
 		 * deferred ops, you /must/ attach them to the capture list in
 		 * the recover routine or else those subsequent intents will be
 		 * replayed in the wrong order!
+		 *
+		 * The recovery function can free the log item, so we must not
+		 * access lip after it returns.
 		 */
 		spin_unlock(&ailp->ail_lock);
-		error = lip->li_ops->iop_recover(lip, &capture_list);
+		ops = lip->li_ops;
+		error = ops->iop_recover(lip, &capture_list);
 		spin_lock(&ailp->ail_lock);
 		if (error) {
 			trace_xlog_intent_recovery_failed(log->l_mp, error,
-					lip->li_ops->iop_recover);
+					ops->iop_recover);
 			break;
 		}
 	}