diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_main.c
index c0df7be6e0c13..424795a3a6d12 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_main.c
@@ -513,20 +513,6 @@ static void liquidio_deinit_pci(void)
 	pci_unregister_driver(&liquidio_pci_driver);
 }
 
-/**
- * \brief Start Tx queue
- * @param netdev network device
- */
-static void start_txq(struct net_device *netdev)
-{
-	struct lio *lio = GET_LIO(netdev);
-
-	if (lio->linfo.link.s.link_up) {
-		txqs_start(netdev);
-		return;
-	}
-}
-
 /**
  * \brief Wake a queue
  * @param netdev network device
@@ -2145,7 +2131,7 @@ static int liquidio_open(struct net_device *netdev)
 			return -1;
 	}
 
-	start_txq(netdev);
+	txqs_start(netdev);
 
 	/* tell Octeon to start forwarding packets to host */
 	send_rx_ctrl_cmd(lio, 1);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_vf_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_vf_main.c
index 5f0114d9c881d..57b6ee5782107 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_vf_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_vf_main.c
@@ -284,20 +284,6 @@ static struct pci_driver liquidio_vf_pci_driver = {
 	.err_handler	= &liquidio_vf_err_handler,    /* For AER */
 };
 
-/**
- * \brief Start Tx queue
- * @param netdev network device
- */
-static void start_txq(struct net_device *netdev)
-{
-	struct lio *lio = GET_LIO(netdev);
-
-	if (lio->linfo.link.s.link_up) {
-		txqs_start(netdev);
-		return;
-	}
-}
-
 /**
  * \brief Wake a queue
  * @param netdev network device
@@ -1189,7 +1175,7 @@ static int liquidio_open(struct net_device *netdev)
 	lio->intf_open = 1;
 
 	netif_info(lio, ifup, lio->netdev, "Interface Open, ready for traffic\n");
-	start_txq(netdev);
+	txqs_start(netdev);
 
 	/* tell Octeon to start forwarding packets to host */
 	send_rx_ctrl_cmd(lio, 1);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/octeon_network.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/octeon_network.h
index cd334a74a2755..72a581aaa3201 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/octeon_network.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/octeon_network.h
@@ -556,13 +556,17 @@ static inline void txqs_wake(struct net_device *netdev)
  */
 static inline void txqs_start(struct net_device *netdev)
 {
-	if (netif_is_multiqueue(netdev)) {
-		int i;
+	struct lio *lio = GET_LIO(netdev);
 
-		for (i = 0; i < netdev->num_tx_queues; i++)
-			netif_start_subqueue(netdev, i);
-	} else {
-		netif_start_queue(netdev);
+	if (lio->linfo.link.s.link_up) {
+		if (netif_is_multiqueue(netdev)) {
+			int i;
+
+			for (i = 0; i < netdev->num_tx_queues; i++)
+				netif_start_subqueue(netdev, i);
+		} else {
+			netif_start_queue(netdev);
+		}
 	}
 }