diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/e1000e/netdev.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/e1000e/netdev.c
index 7216825e049c..6bbe7afdf30c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/e1000e/netdev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/e1000e/netdev.c
@@ -5922,15 +5922,19 @@ static void e1000_reset_task(struct work_struct *work)
 	struct e1000_adapter *adapter;
 	adapter = container_of(work, struct e1000_adapter, reset_task);
 
+	rtnl_lock();
 	/* don't run the task if already down */
-	if (test_bit(__E1000_DOWN, &adapter->state))
+	if (test_bit(__E1000_DOWN, &adapter->state)) {
+		rtnl_unlock();
 		return;
+	}
 
 	if (!(adapter->flags & FLAG_RESTART_NOW)) {
 		e1000e_dump(adapter);
 		e_err("Reset adapter unexpectedly\n");
 	}
 	e1000e_reinit_locked(adapter);
+	rtnl_unlock();
 }
 
 /**