diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/emulex/benet/be_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/emulex/benet/be_main.c
index bff74752cef16f4fd55b1702660ca048a236162c..3fe6a28027fe13fcde75b5d7848b3a8246b686ae 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/emulex/benet/be_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/emulex/benet/be_main.c
@@ -4700,8 +4700,12 @@ int be_update_queues(struct be_adapter *adapter)
 	struct net_device *netdev = adapter->netdev;
 	int status;
 
-	if (netif_running(netdev))
+	if (netif_running(netdev)) {
+		/* device cannot transmit now, avoid dev_watchdog timeouts */
+		netif_carrier_off(netdev);
+
 		be_close(netdev);
+	}
 
 	be_cancel_worker(adapter);