diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c
index da50ea3e44c2..be97ac251802 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c
@@ -3905,8 +3905,11 @@ static int iavf_change_mtu(struct net_device *netdev, int new_mtu)
 		iavf_notify_client_l2_params(&adapter->vsi);
 		adapter->flags |= IAVF_FLAG_SERVICE_CLIENT_REQUESTED;
 	}
-	adapter->flags |= IAVF_FLAG_RESET_NEEDED;
-	queue_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->reset_task);
+
+	if (netif_running(netdev)) {
+		adapter->flags |= IAVF_FLAG_RESET_NEEDED;
+		queue_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->reset_task);
+	}
 
 	return 0;
 }