diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40evf/i40evf_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40evf/i40evf_main.c
index 1cd5d5d1b6603efeab20af633524e13bf868ae4a..8476fc548f0f24ae8fa8a1520b3917658816ff55 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40evf/i40evf_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40evf/i40evf_main.c
@@ -2435,6 +2435,14 @@ static void i40evf_init_task(struct work_struct *work)
 		if (err == I40E_ERR_ADMIN_QUEUE_NO_WORK) {
 			err = i40evf_send_vf_config_msg(adapter);
 			goto err;
+		} else if (err == I40E_ERR_PARAM) {
+			/* We only get ERR_PARAM if the device is in a very bad
+			 * state or if we've been disabled for previous bad
+			 * behavior. Either way, we're done now.
+			 */
+			i40evf_shutdown_adminq(hw);
+			dev_err(&pdev->dev, "Unable to get VF config due to PF error condition, not retrying\n");
+			return;
 		}
 		if (err) {
 			dev_err(&pdev->dev, "Unable to get VF config (%d)\n",