diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40evf/i40evf_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40evf/i40evf_main.c
index f751f7bc0d81..e0a8cd82255c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40evf/i40evf_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40evf/i40evf_main.c
@@ -1037,6 +1037,7 @@ void i40evf_down(struct i40evf_adapter *adapter)
 
 	netif_carrier_off(netdev);
 	netif_tx_disable(netdev);
+	adapter->link_up = false;
 	i40evf_napi_disable_all(adapter);
 	i40evf_irq_disable(adapter);
 
@@ -1731,6 +1732,7 @@ static void i40evf_reset_task(struct work_struct *work)
 			set_bit(__I40E_DOWN, &adapter->vsi.state);
 			netif_carrier_off(netdev);
 			netif_tx_disable(netdev);
+			adapter->link_up = false;
 			i40evf_napi_disable_all(adapter);
 			i40evf_irq_disable(adapter);
 			i40evf_free_traffic_irqs(adapter);
@@ -1769,6 +1771,7 @@ continue_reset:
 	if (netif_running(adapter->netdev)) {
 		netif_carrier_off(netdev);
 		netif_tx_stop_all_queues(netdev);
+		adapter->link_up = false;
 		i40evf_napi_disable_all(adapter);
 	}
 	i40evf_irq_disable(adapter);
@@ -2457,6 +2460,7 @@ static void i40evf_init_task(struct work_struct *work)
 		goto err_sw_init;
 
 	netif_carrier_off(netdev);
+	adapter->link_up = false;
 
 	if (!adapter->netdev_registered) {
 		err = register_netdev(netdev);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40evf/i40evf_virtchnl.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40evf/i40evf_virtchnl.c
index cc6cb30c1667..ddf478d6322b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40evf/i40evf_virtchnl.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40evf/i40evf_virtchnl.c
@@ -898,8 +898,14 @@ void i40evf_virtchnl_completion(struct i40evf_adapter *adapter,
 			    vpe->event_data.link_event.link_status) {
 				adapter->link_up =
 					vpe->event_data.link_event.link_status;
+				if (adapter->link_up) {
+					netif_tx_start_all_queues(netdev);
+					netif_carrier_on(netdev);
+				} else {
+					netif_tx_stop_all_queues(netdev);
+					netif_carrier_off(netdev);
+				}
 				i40evf_print_link_message(adapter);
-				netif_tx_stop_all_queues(netdev);
 			}
 			break;
 		case I40E_VIRTCHNL_EVENT_RESET_IMPENDING:
@@ -974,8 +980,6 @@ void i40evf_virtchnl_completion(struct i40evf_adapter *adapter,
 	case I40E_VIRTCHNL_OP_ENABLE_QUEUES:
 		/* enable transmits */
 		i40evf_irq_enable(adapter, true);
-		netif_tx_start_all_queues(adapter->netdev);
-		netif_carrier_on(adapter->netdev);
 		break;
 	case I40E_VIRTCHNL_OP_DISABLE_QUEUES:
 		i40evf_free_all_tx_resources(adapter);