diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c
index 696b45f344d1..711e8c7f62de 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c
@@ -2071,6 +2071,7 @@ 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));
@@ -2101,9 +2102,8 @@ 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;
 	}