diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40evf/i40evf_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40evf/i40evf_main.c
index 537776a3e5de..9ba36425a3dd 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40evf/i40evf_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40evf/i40evf_main.c
@@ -1889,7 +1889,7 @@ static void i40evf_adminq_task(struct work_struct *work)
 
 	/* check for error indications */
 	val = rd32(hw, hw->aq.arq.len);
-	if (val == 0xdeadbeef) /* indicates device in reset */
+	if (val == 0xdeadbeef || val == 0xffffffff) /* device in reset */
 		goto freedom;
 	oldval = val;
 	if (val & I40E_VF_ARQLEN1_ARQVFE_MASK) {