diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c
index 67349d24dc906..36433d6504b7e 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c
@@ -2532,7 +2532,8 @@ static void iavf_watchdog_task(struct work_struct *work)
 	schedule_delayed_work(&adapter->client_task, msecs_to_jiffies(5));
 	mutex_unlock(&adapter->crit_lock);
 restart_watchdog:
-	queue_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->adminq_task);
+	if (adapter->state >= __IAVF_DOWN)
+		queue_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->adminq_task);
 	if (adapter->aq_required)
 		queue_delayed_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->watchdog_task,
 				   msecs_to_jiffies(20));