diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c
index b90ad1abbabb..48c956d90b90 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c
@@ -1937,7 +1937,10 @@ static void iavf_watchdog_task(struct work_struct *work)
 				iavf_send_api_ver(adapter);
 			}
 		} else {
-			if (!iavf_process_aq_command(adapter) &&
+			/* An error will be returned if no commands were
+			 * processed; use this opportunity to update stats
+			 */
+			if (iavf_process_aq_command(adapter) &&
 			    adapter->state == __IAVF_RUNNING)
 				iavf_request_stats(adapter);
 		}