diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c
index 650a969a69a1..22bc57ee2422 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c
@@ -3286,9 +3286,6 @@ static void iavf_adminq_task(struct work_struct *work)
 	u32 val, oldval;
 	u16 pending;
 
-	if (adapter->flags & IAVF_FLAG_PF_COMMS_FAILED)
-		goto out;
-
 	if (!mutex_trylock(&adapter->crit_lock)) {
 		if (adapter->state == __IAVF_REMOVE)
 			return;
@@ -3297,6 +3294,9 @@ static void iavf_adminq_task(struct work_struct *work)
 		goto out;
 	}
 
+	if (adapter->flags & IAVF_FLAG_PF_COMMS_FAILED)
+		goto unlock;
+
 	event.buf_len = IAVF_MAX_AQ_BUF_SIZE;
 	event.msg_buf = kzalloc(event.buf_len, GFP_KERNEL);
 	if (!event.msg_buf)