diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c
index cfdbf8c08d18..4e7c04047f91 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c
@@ -2046,6 +2046,7 @@ static void iavf_watchdog_task(struct work_struct *work)
 		}
 		adapter->aq_required = 0;
 		adapter->current_op = VIRTCHNL_OP_UNKNOWN;
+		mutex_unlock(&adapter->crit_lock);
 		queue_delayed_work(iavf_wq,
 				   &adapter->watchdog_task,
 				   msecs_to_jiffies(10));
@@ -2076,16 +2077,14 @@ static void iavf_watchdog_task(struct work_struct *work)
 			iavf_detect_recover_hung(&adapter->vsi);
 		break;
 	case __IAVF_REMOVE:
-		mutex_unlock(&adapter->crit_lock);
-		return;
 	default:
+		mutex_unlock(&adapter->crit_lock);
 		return;
 	}
 
 	/* check for hw reset */
 	reg_val = rd32(hw, IAVF_VF_ARQLEN1) & IAVF_VF_ARQLEN1_ARQENABLE_MASK;
 	if (!reg_val) {
-		iavf_change_state(adapter, __IAVF_RESETTING);
 		adapter->flags |= IAVF_FLAG_RESET_PENDING;
 		adapter->aq_required = 0;
 		adapter->current_op = VIRTCHNL_OP_UNKNOWN;