diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_cmn.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_cmn.c
index bcb2b64833ad3c0ab6dc0fa6bad6c8656aeb91a3..a4611386afeb6b25e86ac2fc1a1e3d2bbc56ea76 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_cmn.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_cmn.c
@@ -2805,7 +2805,7 @@ int bnx2x_nic_unload(struct bnx2x *bp, int unload_mode, bool keep_link)
 			  val & ~DRV_FLAGS_CAPABILITIES_LOADED_L2);
 	}
 
-	if (IS_PF(bp) &&
+	if (IS_PF(bp) && bp->recovery_state != BNX2X_RECOVERY_DONE &&
 	    (bp->state == BNX2X_STATE_CLOSED ||
 	     bp->state == BNX2X_STATE_ERROR)) {
 		/* We can get here if the driver has been unloaded
@@ -2825,8 +2825,16 @@ int bnx2x_nic_unload(struct bnx2x *bp, int unload_mode, bool keep_link)
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
-	/*
-	 * It's important to set the bp->state to the value different from
+	/* Nothing to do during unload if previous bnx2x_nic_load()
+	 * have not completed succesfully - all resourses are released.
+	 *
+	 * we can get here only after unsuccessful ndo_* callback, during which
+	 * dev->IFF_UP flag is still on.
+	 */
+	if (bp->state == BNX2X_STATE_CLOSED || bp->state == BNX2X_STATE_ERROR)
+		return 0;
+
+	/* It's important to set the bp->state to the value different from
 	 * BNX2X_STATE_OPEN and only then stop the Tx. Otherwise bnx2x_tx_int()
 	 * may restart the Tx from the NAPI context (see bnx2x_tx_int()).
 	 */