diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_net_common.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_net_common.c
index 279b8ab8a17b5..cf1704e972b7c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_net_common.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_net_common.c
@@ -1078,7 +1078,7 @@ static bool nfp_net_xdp_complete(struct nfp_net_tx_ring *tx_ring)
  * @dp:		NFP Net data path struct
  * @tx_ring:	TX ring structure
  *
- * Assumes that the device is stopped
+ * Assumes that the device is stopped, must be idempotent.
  */
 static void
 nfp_net_tx_ring_reset(struct nfp_net_dp *dp, struct nfp_net_tx_ring *tx_ring)
@@ -1280,13 +1280,18 @@ static void nfp_net_rx_give_one(const struct nfp_net_dp *dp,
  * nfp_net_rx_ring_reset() - Reflect in SW state of freelist after disable
  * @rx_ring:	RX ring structure
  *
- * Warning: Do *not* call if ring buffers were never put on the FW freelist
- *	    (i.e. device was not enabled)!
+ * Assumes that the device is stopped, must be idempotent.
  */
 static void nfp_net_rx_ring_reset(struct nfp_net_rx_ring *rx_ring)
 {
 	unsigned int wr_idx, last_idx;
 
+	/* wr_p == rd_p means ring was never fed FL bufs.  RX rings are always
+	 * kept at cnt - 1 FL bufs.
+	 */
+	if (rx_ring->wr_p == 0 && rx_ring->rd_p == 0)
+		return;
+
 	/* Move the empty entry to the end of the list */
 	wr_idx = D_IDX(rx_ring, rx_ring->wr_p);
 	last_idx = rx_ring->cnt - 1;
@@ -2508,6 +2513,8 @@ static void nfp_net_vec_clear_ring_data(struct nfp_net *nn, unsigned int idx)
 /**
  * nfp_net_clear_config_and_disable() - Clear control BAR and disable NFP
  * @nn:      NFP Net device to reconfigure
+ *
+ * Warning: must be fully idempotent.
  */
 static void nfp_net_clear_config_and_disable(struct nfp_net *nn)
 {