diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ice/ice_sriov.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ice/ice_sriov.c
index b83f99c01d91..8aabf7749aa5 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ice/ice_sriov.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ice/ice_sriov.c
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ static void ice_free_vf_entries(struct ice_pf *pf)
 
 	hash_for_each_safe(vfs->table, bkt, tmp, vf, entry) {
 		hash_del_rcu(&vf->entry);
+		ice_deinitialize_vf_entry(vf);
 		ice_put_vf(vf);
 	}
 }
@@ -193,10 +194,6 @@ void ice_free_vfs(struct ice_pf *pf)
 			wr32(hw, GLGEN_VFLRSTAT(reg_idx), BIT(bit_idx));
 		}
 
-		/* clear malicious info since the VF is getting released */
-		if (!ice_is_feature_supported(pf, ICE_F_MBX_LIMIT))
-			list_del(&vf->mbx_info.list_entry);
-
 		mutex_unlock(&vf->cfg_lock);
 	}
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ice/ice_vf_lib.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ice/ice_vf_lib.c
index c7c0c2f50c26..815ad0bfe832 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ice/ice_vf_lib.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ice/ice_vf_lib.c
@@ -1036,6 +1036,14 @@ void ice_initialize_vf_entry(struct ice_vf *vf)
 	mutex_init(&vf->cfg_lock);
 }
 
+void ice_deinitialize_vf_entry(struct ice_vf *vf)
+{
+	struct ice_pf *pf = vf->pf;
+
+	if (!ice_is_feature_supported(pf, ICE_F_MBX_LIMIT))
+		list_del(&vf->mbx_info.list_entry);
+}
+
 /**
  * ice_dis_vf_qs - Disable the VF queues
  * @vf: pointer to the VF structure
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ice/ice_vf_lib_private.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ice/ice_vf_lib_private.h
index 0c7e77c0a09f..5392b0404986 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ice/ice_vf_lib_private.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ice/ice_vf_lib_private.h
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #endif
 
 void ice_initialize_vf_entry(struct ice_vf *vf);
+void ice_deinitialize_vf_entry(struct ice_vf *vf);
 void ice_dis_vf_qs(struct ice_vf *vf);
 int ice_check_vf_init(struct ice_vf *vf);
 enum virtchnl_status_code ice_err_to_virt_err(int err);