diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40evf/i40evf_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40evf/i40evf_main.c
index da901f4b9c18..b08efafee1ae 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40evf/i40evf_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40evf/i40evf_main.c
@@ -971,8 +971,10 @@ void i40evf_down(struct i40evf_adapter *adapter)
 				&adapter->crit_section))
 		usleep_range(500, 1000);
 
-	i40evf_irq_disable(adapter);
+	netif_carrier_off(netdev);
+	netif_tx_disable(netdev);
 	i40evf_napi_disable_all(adapter);
+	i40evf_irq_disable(adapter);
 
 	/* remove all MAC filters */
 	list_for_each_entry(f, &adapter->mac_filter_list, list) {
@@ -995,13 +997,7 @@ void i40evf_down(struct i40evf_adapter *adapter)
 		adapter->aq_required |= I40EVF_FLAG_AQ_DEL_VLAN_FILTER;
 		adapter->aq_required |= I40EVF_FLAG_AQ_DISABLE_QUEUES;
 	}
-	netif_tx_disable(netdev);
 
-	netif_tx_stop_all_queues(netdev);
-
-	msleep(20);
-
-	netif_carrier_off(netdev);
 	clear_bit(__I40EVF_IN_CRITICAL_TASK, &adapter->crit_section);
 }