diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnxt/bnxt.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnxt/bnxt.c
index 4f4fd8076261..e25a29d35026 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnxt/bnxt.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnxt/bnxt.c
@@ -9193,7 +9193,10 @@ int bnxt_open_nic(struct bnxt *bp, bool irq_re_init, bool link_re_init)
 {
 	int rc = 0;
 
-	rc = __bnxt_open_nic(bp, irq_re_init, link_re_init);
+	if (test_bit(BNXT_STATE_ABORT_ERR, &bp->state))
+		rc = -EIO;
+	if (!rc)
+		rc = __bnxt_open_nic(bp, irq_re_init, link_re_init);
 	if (rc) {
 		netdev_err(bp->dev, "nic open fail (rc: %x)\n", rc);
 		dev_close(bp->dev);