diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c
index 852e5b62f0a5..6faa62bced3a 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c
@@ -1983,7 +1983,7 @@ err:
 static void iavf_finish_config(struct work_struct *work)
 {
 	struct iavf_adapter *adapter;
-	bool netdev_released = false;
+	bool locks_released = false;
 	int pairs, err;
 
 	adapter = container_of(work, struct iavf_adapter, finish_config);
@@ -2012,19 +2012,22 @@ static void iavf_finish_config(struct work_struct *work)
 		netif_set_real_num_tx_queues(adapter->netdev, pairs);
 
 		if (adapter->netdev->reg_state != NETREG_REGISTERED) {
+			mutex_unlock(&adapter->crit_lock);
 			netdev_unlock(adapter->netdev);
-			netdev_released = true;
+			locks_released = true;
 			err = register_netdevice(adapter->netdev);
 			if (err) {
 				dev_err(&adapter->pdev->dev, "Unable to register netdev (%d)\n",
 					err);
 
 				/* go back and try again.*/
+				mutex_lock(&adapter->crit_lock);
 				iavf_free_rss(adapter);
 				iavf_free_misc_irq(adapter);
 				iavf_reset_interrupt_capability(adapter);
 				iavf_change_state(adapter,
 						  __IAVF_INIT_CONFIG_ADAPTER);
+				mutex_unlock(&adapter->crit_lock);
 				goto out;
 			}
 		}
@@ -2040,9 +2043,10 @@ static void iavf_finish_config(struct work_struct *work)
 	}
 
 out:
-	mutex_unlock(&adapter->crit_lock);
-	if (!netdev_released)
+	if (!locks_released) {
+		mutex_unlock(&adapter->crit_lock);
 		netdev_unlock(adapter->netdev);
+	}
 	rtnl_unlock();
 }