diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnxt/bnxt_ethtool.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnxt/bnxt_ethtool.c
index fb1ab58da9fa..1f512e7c3d43 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnxt/bnxt_ethtool.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnxt/bnxt_ethtool.c
@@ -1688,8 +1688,11 @@ static int bnxt_set_pauseparam(struct net_device *dev,
 	if (epause->tx_pause)
 		link_info->req_flow_ctrl |= BNXT_LINK_PAUSE_TX;
 
-	if (netif_running(dev))
+	if (netif_running(dev)) {
+		mutex_lock(&bp->link_lock);
 		rc = bnxt_hwrm_set_pause(bp);
+		mutex_unlock(&bp->link_lock);
+	}
 	return rc;
 }