diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/fm10k/fm10k_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/fm10k/fm10k_main.c
index 75ff1092b7ee..b243c3cbe68f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/fm10k/fm10k_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/fm10k/fm10k_main.c
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ MODULE_LICENSE("GPL");
 MODULE_VERSION(DRV_VERSION);
 
 /* single workqueue for entire fm10k driver */
-struct workqueue_struct *fm10k_workqueue = NULL;
+struct workqueue_struct *fm10k_workqueue;
 
 /**
  * fm10k_init_module - Driver Registration Routine
@@ -56,8 +56,7 @@ static int __init fm10k_init_module(void)
 	pr_info("%s\n", fm10k_copyright);
 
 	/* create driver workqueue */
-	if (!fm10k_workqueue)
-		fm10k_workqueue = create_workqueue("fm10k");
+	fm10k_workqueue = create_workqueue("fm10k");
 
 	fm10k_dbg_init();
 
@@ -80,7 +79,6 @@ static void __exit fm10k_exit_module(void)
 	/* destroy driver workqueue */
 	flush_workqueue(fm10k_workqueue);
 	destroy_workqueue(fm10k_workqueue);
-	fm10k_workqueue = NULL;
 }
 module_exit(fm10k_exit_module);