diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en.h
index 220ef9f06f84d..bc2c96b34de17 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en.h
@@ -1035,14 +1035,14 @@ int mlx5e_open_channels(struct mlx5e_priv *priv,
 			struct mlx5e_channels *chs);
 void mlx5e_close_channels(struct mlx5e_channels *chs);
 
-/* Function pointer to be used to modify WH settings while
+/* Function pointer to be used to modify HW or kernel settings while
  * switching channels
  */
-typedef int (*mlx5e_fp_hw_modify)(struct mlx5e_priv *priv);
+typedef int (*mlx5e_fp_preactivate)(struct mlx5e_priv *priv);
 int mlx5e_safe_reopen_channels(struct mlx5e_priv *priv);
 int mlx5e_safe_switch_channels(struct mlx5e_priv *priv,
 			       struct mlx5e_channels *new_chs,
-			       mlx5e_fp_hw_modify hw_modify);
+			       mlx5e_fp_preactivate preactivate);
 void mlx5e_activate_priv_channels(struct mlx5e_priv *priv);
 void mlx5e_deactivate_priv_channels(struct mlx5e_priv *priv);
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en_main.c
index 85a86ff72aac8..152aa5d7df79a 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en_main.c
@@ -2937,7 +2937,7 @@ void mlx5e_deactivate_priv_channels(struct mlx5e_priv *priv)
 
 static void mlx5e_switch_priv_channels(struct mlx5e_priv *priv,
 				       struct mlx5e_channels *new_chs,
-				       mlx5e_fp_hw_modify hw_modify)
+				       mlx5e_fp_preactivate preactivate)
 {
 	struct net_device *netdev = priv->netdev;
 	int new_num_txqs;
@@ -2956,9 +2956,11 @@ static void mlx5e_switch_priv_channels(struct mlx5e_priv *priv,
 
 	priv->channels = *new_chs;
 
-	/* New channels are ready to roll, modify HW settings if needed */
-	if (hw_modify)
-		hw_modify(priv);
+	/* New channels are ready to roll, call the preactivate hook if needed
+	 * to modify HW settings or update kernel parameters.
+	 */
+	if (preactivate)
+		preactivate(priv);
 
 	priv->profile->update_rx(priv);
 	mlx5e_activate_priv_channels(priv);
@@ -2970,7 +2972,7 @@ static void mlx5e_switch_priv_channels(struct mlx5e_priv *priv,
 
 int mlx5e_safe_switch_channels(struct mlx5e_priv *priv,
 			       struct mlx5e_channels *new_chs,
-			       mlx5e_fp_hw_modify hw_modify)
+			       mlx5e_fp_preactivate preactivate)
 {
 	int err;
 
@@ -2978,7 +2980,7 @@ int mlx5e_safe_switch_channels(struct mlx5e_priv *priv,
 	if (err)
 		return err;
 
-	mlx5e_switch_priv_channels(priv, new_chs, hw_modify);
+	mlx5e_switch_priv_channels(priv, new_chs, preactivate);
 	return 0;
 }