diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/main.c
index c065132b956d..4cdb414aa2d5 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/main.c
@@ -1186,7 +1186,6 @@ static int mlx5_load_one(struct mlx5_core_dev *dev, struct mlx5_priv *priv,
 		}
 	}
 
-	clear_bit(MLX5_INTERFACE_STATE_DOWN, &dev->intf_state);
 	set_bit(MLX5_INTERFACE_STATE_UP, &dev->intf_state);
 out:
 	mutex_unlock(&dev->intf_state_mutex);
@@ -1261,7 +1260,7 @@ static int mlx5_unload_one(struct mlx5_core_dev *dev, struct mlx5_priv *priv,
 		mlx5_drain_health_recovery(dev);
 
 	mutex_lock(&dev->intf_state_mutex);
-	if (test_bit(MLX5_INTERFACE_STATE_DOWN, &dev->intf_state)) {
+	if (!test_bit(MLX5_INTERFACE_STATE_UP, &dev->intf_state)) {
 		dev_warn(&dev->pdev->dev, "%s: interface is down, NOP\n",
 			 __func__);
 		if (cleanup)
@@ -1270,7 +1269,6 @@ static int mlx5_unload_one(struct mlx5_core_dev *dev, struct mlx5_priv *priv,
 	}
 
 	clear_bit(MLX5_INTERFACE_STATE_UP, &dev->intf_state);
-	set_bit(MLX5_INTERFACE_STATE_DOWN, &dev->intf_state);
 
 	if (mlx5_device_registered(dev))
 		mlx5_detach_device(dev);
diff --git a/include/linux/mlx5/driver.h b/include/linux/mlx5/driver.h
index df6ce59a1f95..918f5e644506 100644
--- a/include/linux/mlx5/driver.h
+++ b/include/linux/mlx5/driver.h
@@ -673,9 +673,8 @@ enum mlx5_device_state {
 };
 
 enum mlx5_interface_state {
-	MLX5_INTERFACE_STATE_DOWN = BIT(0),
-	MLX5_INTERFACE_STATE_UP = BIT(1),
-	MLX5_INTERFACE_STATE_SHUTDOWN = BIT(2),
+	MLX5_INTERFACE_STATE_UP = BIT(0),
+	MLX5_INTERFACE_STATE_SHUTDOWN = BIT(1),
 };
 
 enum mlx5_pci_status {