diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/xilinx/xilinx_axienet.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/xilinx/xilinx_axienet.h
index 2dacfc85b3ba..04e51af32178 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/xilinx/xilinx_axienet.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/xilinx/xilinx_axienet.h
@@ -435,7 +435,7 @@ struct axienet_local {
 	void __iomem *regs;
 	void __iomem *dma_regs;
 
-	struct tasklet_struct dma_err_tasklet;
+	struct work_struct dma_err_task;
 
 	int tx_irq;
 	int rx_irq;
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/xilinx/xilinx_axienet_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/xilinx/xilinx_axienet_main.c
index 479325eeaf8a..345a795666e9 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/xilinx/xilinx_axienet_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/xilinx/xilinx_axienet_main.c
@@ -806,7 +806,7 @@ static irqreturn_t axienet_tx_irq(int irq, void *_ndev)
 		/* Write to the Rx channel control register */
 		axienet_dma_out32(lp, XAXIDMA_RX_CR_OFFSET, cr);
 
-		tasklet_schedule(&lp->dma_err_tasklet);
+		schedule_work(&lp->dma_err_task);
 		axienet_dma_out32(lp, XAXIDMA_TX_SR_OFFSET, status);
 	}
 out:
@@ -855,7 +855,7 @@ static irqreturn_t axienet_rx_irq(int irq, void *_ndev)
 		/* write to the Rx channel control register */
 		axienet_dma_out32(lp, XAXIDMA_RX_CR_OFFSET, cr);
 
-		tasklet_schedule(&lp->dma_err_tasklet);
+		schedule_work(&lp->dma_err_task);
 		axienet_dma_out32(lp, XAXIDMA_RX_SR_OFFSET, status);
 	}
 out:
@@ -891,7 +891,7 @@ static irqreturn_t axienet_eth_irq(int irq, void *_ndev)
 	return IRQ_HANDLED;
 }
 
-static void axienet_dma_err_handler(unsigned long data);
+static void axienet_dma_err_handler(struct work_struct *work);
 
 /**
  * axienet_open - Driver open routine.
@@ -935,9 +935,8 @@ static int axienet_open(struct net_device *ndev)
 
 	phylink_start(lp->phylink);
 
-	/* Enable tasklets for Axi DMA error handling */
-	tasklet_init(&lp->dma_err_tasklet, axienet_dma_err_handler,
-		     (unsigned long) lp);
+	/* Enable worker thread for Axi DMA error handling */
+	INIT_WORK(&lp->dma_err_task, axienet_dma_err_handler);
 
 	/* Enable interrupts for Axi DMA Tx */
 	ret = request_irq(lp->tx_irq, axienet_tx_irq, IRQF_SHARED,
@@ -966,7 +965,7 @@ err_rx_irq:
 err_tx_irq:
 	phylink_stop(lp->phylink);
 	phylink_disconnect_phy(lp->phylink);
-	tasklet_kill(&lp->dma_err_tasklet);
+	cancel_work_sync(&lp->dma_err_task);
 	dev_err(lp->dev, "request_irq() failed\n");
 	return ret;
 }
@@ -1025,7 +1024,7 @@ static int axienet_stop(struct net_device *ndev)
 	axienet_mdio_enable(lp);
 	mutex_unlock(&lp->mii_bus->mdio_lock);
 
-	tasklet_kill(&lp->dma_err_tasklet);
+	cancel_work_sync(&lp->dma_err_task);
 
 	if (lp->eth_irq > 0)
 		free_irq(lp->eth_irq, ndev);
@@ -1505,17 +1504,18 @@ static const struct phylink_mac_ops axienet_phylink_ops = {
 };
 
 /**
- * axienet_dma_err_handler - Tasklet handler for Axi DMA Error
- * @data:	Data passed
+ * axienet_dma_err_handler - Work queue task for Axi DMA Error
+ * @work:	pointer to work_struct
  *
  * Resets the Axi DMA and Axi Ethernet devices, and reconfigures the
  * Tx/Rx BDs.
  */
-static void axienet_dma_err_handler(unsigned long data)
+static void axienet_dma_err_handler(struct work_struct *work)
 {
 	u32 axienet_status;
 	u32 cr, i;
-	struct axienet_local *lp = (struct axienet_local *) data;
+	struct axienet_local *lp = container_of(work, struct axienet_local,
+						dma_err_task);
 	struct net_device *ndev = lp->ndev;
 	struct axidma_bd *cur_p;