diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40evf/i40evf_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40evf/i40evf_main.c
index 38126f5d6fd9..8d8c201c63c1 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40evf/i40evf_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40evf/i40evf_main.c
@@ -2213,12 +2213,18 @@ err:
 static void i40evf_shutdown(struct pci_dev *pdev)
 {
 	struct net_device *netdev = pci_get_drvdata(pdev);
+	struct i40evf_adapter *adapter = netdev_priv(netdev);
 
 	netif_device_detach(netdev);
 
 	if (netif_running(netdev))
 		i40evf_close(netdev);
 
+	/* Prevent the watchdog from running. */
+	adapter->state = __I40EVF_REMOVE;
+	adapter->aq_required = 0;
+	adapter->aq_pending = 0;
+
 #ifdef CONFIG_PM
 	pci_save_state(pdev);