diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40evf/i40evf_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40evf/i40evf_main.c
index 600fb9c4a7f0..d1d4a653686a 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40evf/i40evf_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40evf/i40evf_main.c
@@ -1420,7 +1420,9 @@ int i40evf_init_interrupt_scheme(struct i40evf_adapter *adapter)
 {
 	int err;
 
+	rtnl_lock();
 	err = i40evf_set_interrupt_capability(adapter);
+	rtnl_unlock();
 	if (err) {
 		dev_err(&adapter->pdev->dev,
 			"Unable to setup interrupt capabilities\n");