diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40e/i40e_virtchnl_pf.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40e/i40e_virtchnl_pf.c
index fd99cd237145f..a35a204b4eeb5 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40e/i40e_virtchnl_pf.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40e/i40e_virtchnl_pf.c
@@ -1102,6 +1102,8 @@ static int i40e_vc_send_msg_to_vf(struct i40e_vf *vf, u32 v_opcode,
 		}
 	} else {
 		vf->num_valid_msgs++;
+		/* reset the invalid counter, if a valid message is received. */
+		vf->num_invalid_msgs = 0;
 	}
 
 	aq_ret = i40e_aq_send_msg_to_vf(hw, abs_vf_id,	v_opcode, v_retval,
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40e/i40e_virtchnl_pf.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40e/i40e_virtchnl_pf.h
index 7fe94e84221aa..da44995def42f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40e/i40e_virtchnl_pf.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40e/i40e_virtchnl_pf.h
@@ -96,7 +96,8 @@ struct i40e_vf {
 
 	u8 num_queue_pairs;	/* num of qps assigned to VF vsis */
 	u64 num_mdd_events;	/* num of mdd events detected */
-	u64 num_invalid_msgs;	/* num of malformed or invalid msgs detected */
+	/* num of continuous malformed or invalid msgs detected */
+	u64 num_invalid_msgs;
 	u64 num_valid_msgs;	/* num of valid msgs detected */
 
 	unsigned long vf_caps;	/* vf's adv. capabilities */