diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/amd/pds_core/adminq.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/amd/pds_core/adminq.c
index 68be5ea251fc..5edff33d56f3 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/amd/pds_core/adminq.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/amd/pds_core/adminq.c
@@ -63,6 +63,15 @@ static int pdsc_process_notifyq(struct pdsc_qcq *qcq)
 	return nq_work;
 }
 
+static bool pdsc_adminq_inc_if_up(struct pdsc *pdsc)
+{
+	if (pdsc->state & BIT_ULL(PDSC_S_STOPPING_DRIVER) ||
+	    pdsc->state & BIT_ULL(PDSC_S_FW_DEAD))
+		return false;
+
+	return refcount_inc_not_zero(&pdsc->adminq_refcnt);
+}
+
 void pdsc_process_adminq(struct pdsc_qcq *qcq)
 {
 	union pds_core_adminq_comp *comp;
@@ -75,9 +84,9 @@ void pdsc_process_adminq(struct pdsc_qcq *qcq)
 	int aq_work = 0;
 	int credits;
 
-	/* Don't process AdminQ when shutting down */
-	if (pdsc->state & BIT_ULL(PDSC_S_STOPPING_DRIVER)) {
-		dev_err(pdsc->dev, "%s: called while PDSC_S_STOPPING_DRIVER\n",
+	/* Don't process AdminQ when it's not up */
+	if (!pdsc_adminq_inc_if_up(pdsc)) {
+		dev_err(pdsc->dev, "%s: called while adminq is unavailable\n",
 			__func__);
 		return;
 	}
@@ -124,6 +133,7 @@ credits:
 		pds_core_intr_credits(&pdsc->intr_ctrl[qcq->intx],
 				      credits,
 				      PDS_CORE_INTR_CRED_REARM);
+	refcount_dec(&pdsc->adminq_refcnt);
 }
 
 void pdsc_work_thread(struct work_struct *work)
@@ -138,9 +148,9 @@ irqreturn_t pdsc_adminq_isr(int irq, void *data)
 	struct pdsc *pdsc = data;
 	struct pdsc_qcq *qcq;
 
-	/* Don't process AdminQ when shutting down */
-	if (pdsc->state & BIT_ULL(PDSC_S_STOPPING_DRIVER)) {
-		dev_err(pdsc->dev, "%s: called while PDSC_S_STOPPING_DRIVER\n",
+	/* Don't process AdminQ when it's not up */
+	if (!pdsc_adminq_inc_if_up(pdsc)) {
+		dev_err(pdsc->dev, "%s: called while adminq is unavailable\n",
 			__func__);
 		return IRQ_HANDLED;
 	}
@@ -148,6 +158,7 @@ irqreturn_t pdsc_adminq_isr(int irq, void *data)
 	qcq = &pdsc->adminqcq;
 	queue_work(pdsc->wq, &qcq->work);
 	pds_core_intr_mask(&pdsc->intr_ctrl[qcq->intx], PDS_CORE_INTR_MASK_CLEAR);
+	refcount_dec(&pdsc->adminq_refcnt);
 
 	return IRQ_HANDLED;
 }
@@ -231,6 +242,12 @@ int pdsc_adminq_post(struct pdsc *pdsc,
 	int err = 0;
 	int index;
 
+	if (!pdsc_adminq_inc_if_up(pdsc)) {
+		dev_dbg(pdsc->dev, "%s: preventing adminq cmd %u\n",
+			__func__, cmd->opcode);
+		return -ENXIO;
+	}
+
 	wc.qcq = &pdsc->adminqcq;
 	index = __pdsc_adminq_post(pdsc, &pdsc->adminqcq, cmd, comp, &wc);
 	if (index < 0) {
@@ -286,6 +303,8 @@ err_out:
 			queue_work(pdsc->wq, &pdsc->health_work);
 	}
 
+	refcount_dec(&pdsc->adminq_refcnt);
+
 	return err;
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(pdsc_adminq_post);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/amd/pds_core/core.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/amd/pds_core/core.c
index cc5e3d1fe652..e1f554f25329 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/amd/pds_core/core.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/amd/pds_core/core.c
@@ -452,6 +452,7 @@ int pdsc_setup(struct pdsc *pdsc, bool init)
 	if (init)
 		pdsc_debugfs_add_viftype(pdsc);
 
+	refcount_set(&pdsc->adminq_refcnt, 1);
 	clear_bit(PDSC_S_FW_DEAD, &pdsc->state);
 	return 0;
 
@@ -514,6 +515,24 @@ void pdsc_stop(struct pdsc *pdsc)
 					   PDS_CORE_INTR_MASK_SET);
 }
 
+static void pdsc_adminq_wait_and_dec_once_unused(struct pdsc *pdsc)
+{
+	/* The driver initializes the adminq_refcnt to 1 when the adminq is
+	 * allocated and ready for use. Other users/requesters will increment
+	 * the refcnt while in use. If the refcnt is down to 1 then the adminq
+	 * is not in use and the refcnt can be cleared and adminq freed. Before
+	 * calling this function the driver will set PDSC_S_FW_DEAD, which
+	 * prevent subsequent attempts to use the adminq and increment the
+	 * refcnt to fail. This guarantees that this function will eventually
+	 * exit.
+	 */
+	while (!refcount_dec_if_one(&pdsc->adminq_refcnt)) {
+		dev_dbg_ratelimited(pdsc->dev, "%s: adminq in use\n",
+				    __func__);
+		cpu_relax();
+	}
+}
+
 void pdsc_fw_down(struct pdsc *pdsc)
 {
 	union pds_core_notifyq_comp reset_event = {
@@ -529,6 +548,8 @@ void pdsc_fw_down(struct pdsc *pdsc)
 	if (pdsc->pdev->is_virtfn)
 		return;
 
+	pdsc_adminq_wait_and_dec_once_unused(pdsc);
+
 	/* Notify clients of fw_down */
 	if (pdsc->fw_reporter)
 		devlink_health_report(pdsc->fw_reporter, "FW down reported", pdsc);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/amd/pds_core/core.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/amd/pds_core/core.h
index 860bce1731c7..d6d19f72df00 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/amd/pds_core/core.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/amd/pds_core/core.h
@@ -184,6 +184,7 @@ struct pdsc {
 	struct mutex devcmd_lock;	/* lock for dev_cmd operations */
 	struct mutex config_lock;	/* lock for configuration operations */
 	spinlock_t adminq_lock;		/* lock for adminq operations */
+	refcount_t adminq_refcnt;
 	struct pds_core_dev_info_regs __iomem *info_regs;
 	struct pds_core_dev_cmd_regs __iomem *cmd_regs;
 	struct pds_core_intr __iomem *intr_ctrl;