diff --git a/drivers/net/virtio_net.c b/drivers/net/virtio_net.c
index 59caa06f34a6b..62421086d3e6e 100644
--- a/drivers/net/virtio_net.c
+++ b/drivers/net/virtio_net.c
@@ -934,7 +934,6 @@ static netdev_tx_t start_xmit(struct sk_buff *skb, struct net_device *dev)
 		dev_kfree_skb_any(skb);
 		return NETDEV_TX_OK;
 	}
-	virtqueue_kick(sq->vq);
 
 	/* Don't wait up for transmitted skbs to be freed. */
 	skb_orphan(skb);
@@ -957,6 +956,14 @@ static netdev_tx_t start_xmit(struct sk_buff *skb, struct net_device *dev)
 	return NETDEV_TX_OK;
 }
 
+static void xmit_flush(struct net_device *dev, u16 qnum)
+{
+	struct virtnet_info *vi = netdev_priv(dev);
+	struct send_queue *sq = &vi->sq[qnum];
+
+	virtqueue_kick(sq->vq);
+}
+
 /*
  * Send command via the control virtqueue and check status.  Commands
  * supported by the hypervisor, as indicated by feature bits, should
@@ -1386,6 +1393,7 @@ static const struct net_device_ops virtnet_netdev = {
 	.ndo_open            = virtnet_open,
 	.ndo_stop   	     = virtnet_close,
 	.ndo_start_xmit      = start_xmit,
+	.ndo_xmit_flush      = xmit_flush,
 	.ndo_validate_addr   = eth_validate_addr,
 	.ndo_set_mac_address = virtnet_set_mac_address,
 	.ndo_set_rx_mode     = virtnet_set_rx_mode,