diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c
index 7b300c86ceda..b23ca9d80189 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c
@@ -1421,7 +1421,8 @@ void iavf_down(struct iavf_adapter *adapter)
 	iavf_clear_fdir_filters(adapter);
 	iavf_clear_adv_rss_conf(adapter);
 
-	if (!(adapter->flags & IAVF_FLAG_PF_COMMS_FAILED)) {
+	if (!(adapter->flags & IAVF_FLAG_PF_COMMS_FAILED) &&
+	    !(test_bit(__IAVF_IN_REMOVE_TASK, &adapter->crit_section))) {
 		/* cancel any current operation */
 		adapter->current_op = VIRTCHNL_OP_UNKNOWN;
 		/* Schedule operations to close down the HW. Don't wait