diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnxt/bnxt_ethtool.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnxt/bnxt_ethtool.c
index 3a352f76e633..427d4dbc9735 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnxt/bnxt_ethtool.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnxt/bnxt_ethtool.c
@@ -1023,8 +1023,11 @@ static int bnxt_set_pauseparam(struct net_device *dev,
 	if (epause->tx_pause)
 		link_info->req_flow_ctrl |= BNXT_LINK_PAUSE_TX;
 
-	if (netif_running(dev))
+	if (netif_running(dev)) {
+		mutex_lock(&bp->link_lock);
 		rc = bnxt_hwrm_set_pause(bp);
+		mutex_unlock(&bp->link_lock);
+	}
 	return rc;
 }