diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/bpf/main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/bpf/main.c
index f4de3a7377b0..be2cf10a2cd7 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/bpf/main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/bpf/main.c
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ static const char *nfp_bpf_extra_cap(struct nfp_app *app, struct nfp_net *nn)
 }
 
 static int
-nfp_bpf_vnic_init(struct nfp_app *app, struct nfp_net *nn, unsigned int id)
+nfp_bpf_vnic_alloc(struct nfp_app *app, struct nfp_net *nn, unsigned int id)
 {
 	struct nfp_net_bpf_priv *priv;
 	int ret;
@@ -106,14 +106,14 @@ nfp_bpf_vnic_init(struct nfp_app *app, struct nfp_net *nn, unsigned int id)
 	setup_timer(&priv->rx_filter_stats_timer,
 		    nfp_net_filter_stats_timer, (unsigned long)nn);
 
-	ret = nfp_app_nic_vnic_init(app, nn, id);
+	ret = nfp_app_nic_vnic_alloc(app, nn, id);
 	if (ret)
 		kfree(priv);
 
 	return ret;
 }
 
-static void nfp_bpf_vnic_clean(struct nfp_app *app, struct nfp_net *nn)
+static void nfp_bpf_vnic_free(struct nfp_app *app, struct nfp_net *nn)
 {
 	if (nn->dp.bpf_offload_xdp)
 		nfp_bpf_xdp_offload(app, nn, NULL);
@@ -149,8 +149,8 @@ const struct nfp_app_type app_bpf = {
 
 	.extra_cap	= nfp_bpf_extra_cap,
 
-	.vnic_init	= nfp_bpf_vnic_init,
-	.vnic_clean	= nfp_bpf_vnic_clean,
+	.vnic_alloc	= nfp_bpf_vnic_alloc,
+	.vnic_free	= nfp_bpf_vnic_free,
 
 	.setup_tc	= nfp_bpf_setup_tc,
 	.tc_busy	= nfp_bpf_tc_busy,
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/flower/cmsg.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/flower/cmsg.c
index 806924b82adc..d82d9888d676 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/flower/cmsg.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/flower/cmsg.c
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ void nfp_flower_cmsg_process_rx(struct work_struct *work)
 	priv = container_of(work, struct nfp_flower_priv, cmsg_work);
 
 	while ((skb = skb_dequeue(&priv->cmsg_skbs)))
-		nfp_flower_cmsg_process_one_rx(priv->nn->app, skb);
+		nfp_flower_cmsg_process_one_rx(priv->app, skb);
 }
 
 void nfp_flower_cmsg_rx(struct nfp_app *app, struct sk_buff *skb)
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/flower/main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/flower/main.c
index 126a6b5233bf..db59858c0f19 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/flower/main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/flower/main.c
@@ -313,18 +313,14 @@ static int nfp_flower_start(struct nfp_app *app)
 					   NFP_REPR_TYPE_PF, 1);
 }
 
-static int nfp_flower_vnic_init(struct nfp_app *app, struct nfp_net *nn,
-				unsigned int id)
+static int nfp_flower_vnic_alloc(struct nfp_app *app, struct nfp_net *nn,
+				 unsigned int id)
 {
-	struct nfp_flower_priv *priv = app->priv;
-
 	if (id > 0) {
 		nfp_warn(app->cpp, "FlowerNIC doesn't support more than one data vNIC\n");
 		goto err_invalid_port;
 	}
 
-	priv->nn = nn;
-
 	eth_hw_addr_random(nn->dp.netdev);
 	netif_keep_dst(nn->dp.netdev);
 
@@ -335,6 +331,22 @@ static int nfp_flower_vnic_init(struct nfp_app *app, struct nfp_net *nn,
 	return PTR_ERR_OR_ZERO(nn->port);
 }
 
+static void nfp_flower_vnic_clean(struct nfp_app *app, struct nfp_net *nn)
+{
+	struct nfp_flower_priv *priv = app->priv;
+
+	priv->nn = NULL;
+}
+
+static int nfp_flower_vnic_init(struct nfp_app *app, struct nfp_net *nn)
+{
+	struct nfp_flower_priv *priv = app->priv;
+
+	priv->nn = nn;
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
 static int nfp_flower_init(struct nfp_app *app)
 {
 	const struct nfp_pf *pf = app->pf;
@@ -374,6 +386,7 @@ static int nfp_flower_init(struct nfp_app *app)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
 	app->priv = app_priv;
+	app_priv->app = app;
 	skb_queue_head_init(&app_priv->cmsg_skbs);
 	INIT_WORK(&app_priv->cmsg_work, nfp_flower_cmsg_process_rx);
 
@@ -410,7 +423,9 @@ const struct nfp_app_type app_flower = {
 	.init		= nfp_flower_init,
 	.clean		= nfp_flower_clean,
 
+	.vnic_alloc	= nfp_flower_vnic_alloc,
 	.vnic_init	= nfp_flower_vnic_init,
+	.vnic_clean	= nfp_flower_vnic_clean,
 
 	.repr_open	= nfp_flower_repr_netdev_open,
 	.repr_stop	= nfp_flower_repr_netdev_stop,
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/flower/main.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/flower/main.h
index b7043ca9b9fc..c20dd00a1cae 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/flower/main.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/flower/main.h
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ struct nfp_fl_stats_id {
 
 /**
  * struct nfp_flower_priv - Flower APP per-vNIC priv data
+ * @app:		Back pointer to app
  * @nn:			Pointer to vNIC
  * @mask_id_seed:	Seed used for mask hash table
  * @flower_version:	HW version of flower
@@ -83,6 +84,7 @@ struct nfp_fl_stats_id {
  * @cmsg_skbs:		List of skbs for control message processing
  */
 struct nfp_flower_priv {
+	struct nfp_app *app;
 	struct nfp_net *nn;
 	u32 mask_id_seed;
 	u64 flower_version;
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_app.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_app.c
index 505e63f47419..82c290763529 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_app.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_app.c
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ struct nfp_app *nfp_app_alloc(struct nfp_pf *pf, enum nfp_app_id id)
 		return ERR_PTR(-EINVAL);
 	}
 
-	if (WARN_ON(!apps[i]->name || !apps[i]->vnic_init))
+	if (WARN_ON(!apps[i]->name || !apps[i]->vnic_alloc))
 		return ERR_PTR(-EINVAL);
 
 	app = kzalloc(sizeof(*app), GFP_KERNEL);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_app.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_app.h
index c13b9bbe7e62..af640b5c2108 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_app.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_app.h
@@ -69,8 +69,10 @@ extern const struct nfp_app_type app_flower;
  * @init:	perform basic app checks and init
  * @clean:	clean app state
  * @extra_cap:	extra capabilities string
- * @vnic_init:	init vNICs (assign port types, etc.)
- * @vnic_clean:	clean up app's vNIC state
+ * @vnic_alloc:	allocate vNICs (assign port types, etc.)
+ * @vnic_free:	free up app's vNIC state
+ * @vnic_init:	vNIC netdev was registered
+ * @vnic_clean:	vNIC netdev about to be unregistered
  * @repr_open:	representor netdev open callback
  * @repr_stop:	representor netdev stop callback
  * @start:	start application logic
@@ -95,8 +97,10 @@ struct nfp_app_type {
 
 	const char *(*extra_cap)(struct nfp_app *app, struct nfp_net *nn);
 
-	int (*vnic_init)(struct nfp_app *app, struct nfp_net *nn,
-			 unsigned int id);
+	int (*vnic_alloc)(struct nfp_app *app, struct nfp_net *nn,
+			  unsigned int id);
+	void (*vnic_free)(struct nfp_app *app, struct nfp_net *nn);
+	int (*vnic_init)(struct nfp_app *app, struct nfp_net *nn);
 	void (*vnic_clean)(struct nfp_app *app, struct nfp_net *nn);
 
 	int (*repr_open)(struct nfp_app *app, struct nfp_repr *repr);
@@ -157,10 +161,23 @@ static inline void nfp_app_clean(struct nfp_app *app)
 		app->type->clean(app);
 }
 
-static inline int nfp_app_vnic_init(struct nfp_app *app, struct nfp_net *nn,
-				    unsigned int id)
+static inline int nfp_app_vnic_alloc(struct nfp_app *app, struct nfp_net *nn,
+				     unsigned int id)
 {
-	return app->type->vnic_init(app, nn, id);
+	return app->type->vnic_alloc(app, nn, id);
+}
+
+static inline void nfp_app_vnic_free(struct nfp_app *app, struct nfp_net *nn)
+{
+	if (app->type->vnic_free)
+		app->type->vnic_free(app, nn);
+}
+
+static inline int nfp_app_vnic_init(struct nfp_app *app, struct nfp_net *nn)
+{
+	if (!app->type->vnic_init)
+		return 0;
+	return app->type->vnic_init(app, nn);
 }
 
 static inline void nfp_app_vnic_clean(struct nfp_app *app, struct nfp_net *nn)
@@ -308,7 +325,7 @@ void nfp_app_free(struct nfp_app *app);
 
 /* Callbacks shared between apps */
 
-int nfp_app_nic_vnic_init(struct nfp_app *app, struct nfp_net *nn,
-			  unsigned int id);
+int nfp_app_nic_vnic_alloc(struct nfp_app *app, struct nfp_net *nn,
+			   unsigned int id);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_app_nic.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_app_nic.c
index 4e37c81f9eaf..2a2f2fbc8850 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_app_nic.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_app_nic.c
@@ -60,8 +60,8 @@ nfp_app_nic_vnic_init_phy_port(struct nfp_pf *pf, struct nfp_app *app,
 	return nn->port->type == NFP_PORT_INVALID;
 }
 
-int nfp_app_nic_vnic_init(struct nfp_app *app, struct nfp_net *nn,
-			  unsigned int id)
+int nfp_app_nic_vnic_alloc(struct nfp_app *app, struct nfp_net *nn,
+			   unsigned int id)
 {
 	int err;
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_net_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_net_main.c
index 7c22cc4654b7..f2a1a4e2ce8b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_net_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_net_main.c
@@ -161,6 +161,8 @@ nfp_net_pf_map_rtsym(struct nfp_pf *pf, const char *name, const char *sym_fmt,
 
 static void nfp_net_pf_free_vnic(struct nfp_pf *pf, struct nfp_net *nn)
 {
+	if (nfp_net_is_data_vnic(nn))
+		nfp_app_vnic_free(pf->app, nn);
 	nfp_port_free(nn->port);
 	list_del(&nn->vnic_list);
 	pf->num_vnics--;
@@ -205,7 +207,7 @@ nfp_net_pf_alloc_vnic(struct nfp_pf *pf, bool needs_netdev,
 	nn->stride_tx = stride;
 
 	if (needs_netdev) {
-		err = nfp_app_vnic_init(pf->app, nn, id);
+		err = nfp_app_vnic_alloc(pf->app, nn, id);
 		if (err) {
 			nfp_net_free(nn);
 			return ERR_PTR(err);
@@ -243,8 +245,17 @@ nfp_net_pf_init_vnic(struct nfp_pf *pf, struct nfp_net *nn, unsigned int id)
 
 	nfp_net_info(nn);
 
+	if (nfp_net_is_data_vnic(nn)) {
+		err = nfp_app_vnic_init(pf->app, nn);
+		if (err)
+			goto err_devlink_port_clean;
+	}
+
 	return 0;
 
+err_devlink_port_clean:
+	if (nn->port)
+		nfp_devlink_port_unregister(nn->port);
 err_dfs_clean:
 	nfp_net_debugfs_dir_clean(&nn->debugfs_dir);
 	nfp_net_clean(nn);
@@ -288,11 +299,12 @@ nfp_net_pf_alloc_vnics(struct nfp_pf *pf, void __iomem *ctrl_bar,
 
 static void nfp_net_pf_clean_vnic(struct nfp_pf *pf, struct nfp_net *nn)
 {
+	if (nfp_net_is_data_vnic(nn))
+		nfp_app_vnic_clean(pf->app, nn);
 	if (nn->port)
 		nfp_devlink_port_unregister(nn->port);
 	nfp_net_debugfs_dir_clean(&nn->debugfs_dir);
 	nfp_net_clean(nn);
-	nfp_app_vnic_clean(pf->app, nn);
 }
 
 static int nfp_net_pf_alloc_irqs(struct nfp_pf *pf)
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nic/main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nic/main.c
index 8287a85d22c1..d5b587fccaa3 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nic/main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nic/main.c
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ const struct nfp_app_type app_nic = {
 	.name		= "nic",
 
 	.init		= nfp_nic_init,
-	.vnic_init	= nfp_app_nic_vnic_init,
+	.vnic_alloc	= nfp_app_nic_vnic_alloc,
 
 	.sriov_enable	= nfp_nic_sriov_enable,
 	.sriov_disable	= nfp_nic_sriov_disable,