diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbevf/ixgbevf_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbevf/ixgbevf_main.c
index 1bffac37b29f..7dc42453fa0c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbevf/ixgbevf_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbevf/ixgbevf_main.c
@@ -2779,7 +2779,9 @@ static void ixgbevf_reset_subtask(struct ixgbevf_adapter *adapter)
 
 	adapter->tx_timeout_count++;
 
+	rtnl_lock();
 	ixgbevf_reinit_locked(adapter);
+	rtnl_unlock();
 }
 
 /**