diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/main.c
index c7f75e12c13b44f9bc54d8fb57b9e3b5af50a7ae..9a5a475d9e009b38797ef66a78db0a5169407a0b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/main.c
@@ -1254,6 +1254,9 @@ static int mlx5_unload_one(struct mlx5_core_dev *dev, struct mlx5_priv *priv,
 		goto out;
 	}
 
+	clear_bit(MLX5_INTERFACE_STATE_UP, &dev->intf_state);
+	set_bit(MLX5_INTERFACE_STATE_DOWN, &dev->intf_state);
+
 	if (mlx5_device_registered(dev))
 		mlx5_detach_device(dev);
 
@@ -1282,8 +1285,6 @@ static int mlx5_unload_one(struct mlx5_core_dev *dev, struct mlx5_priv *priv,
 	mlx5_cmd_cleanup(dev);
 
 out:
-	clear_bit(MLX5_INTERFACE_STATE_UP, &dev->intf_state);
-	set_bit(MLX5_INTERFACE_STATE_DOWN, &dev->intf_state);
 	mutex_unlock(&dev->intf_state_mutex);
 	return err;
 }