diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en_main.c
index 5085bc8965df..5736ed61e6eb 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en_main.c
@@ -6000,6 +6000,7 @@ err_free_cpumask:
 
 void mlx5e_priv_cleanup(struct mlx5e_priv *priv)
 {
+	bool destroying = test_bit(MLX5E_STATE_DESTROYING, &priv->state);
 	int i;
 
 	/* bail if change profile failed and also rollback failed */
@@ -6026,6 +6027,8 @@ void mlx5e_priv_cleanup(struct mlx5e_priv *priv)
 	}
 
 	memset(priv, 0, sizeof(*priv));
+	if (destroying) /* restore destroying bit, to allow unload */
+		set_bit(MLX5E_STATE_DESTROYING, &priv->state);
 }
 
 static unsigned int mlx5e_get_max_num_txqs(struct mlx5_core_dev *mdev,