diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_phy.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_phy.c
index eb534a071fde39ec4c1fff53926794af2c74a262..d7b5bd04760453b7b4b21fed446f51af1e7a437e 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_phy.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_phy.c
@@ -1307,9 +1307,9 @@ s32 ixgbe_read_i2c_byte_generic(struct ixgbe_hw *hw, u8 byte_offset,
 		break;
 
 fail:
+		ixgbe_i2c_bus_clear(hw);
 		hw->mac.ops.release_swfw_sync(hw, swfw_mask);
 		msleep(100);
-		ixgbe_i2c_bus_clear(hw);
 		retry++;
 		if (retry < max_retry)
 			hw_dbg(hw, "I2C byte read error - Retrying.\n");