diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnxt/bnxt.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnxt/bnxt.c
index 4d2296f201ad..9f52b943fede 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnxt/bnxt.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnxt/bnxt.c
@@ -1749,13 +1749,14 @@ static void bnxt_tpa_agg(struct bnxt *bp, struct bnxt_rx_ring_info *rxr,
 static void bnxt_deliver_skb(struct bnxt *bp, struct bnxt_napi *bnapi,
 			     struct sk_buff *skb)
 {
+	skb_mark_for_recycle(skb);
+
 	if (skb->dev != bp->dev) {
 		/* this packet belongs to a vf-rep */
 		bnxt_vf_rep_rx(bp, skb);
 		return;
 	}
 	skb_record_rx_queue(skb, bnapi->index);
-	skb_mark_for_recycle(skb);
 	napi_gro_receive(&bnapi->napi, skb);
 }