diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en_main.c
index 321441e6ad32..ba36e500c1ff 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en_main.c
@@ -4856,6 +4856,7 @@ int mlx5e_priv_init(struct mlx5e_priv *priv,
 
 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 */
@@ -4870,6 +4871,8 @@ void mlx5e_priv_cleanup(struct mlx5e_priv *priv)
 	kvfree(priv->htb.qos_sq_stats);
 
 	memset(priv, 0, sizeof(*priv));
+	if (destroying) /* restore destroying bit, to allow unload */
+		set_bit(MLX5E_STATE_DESTROYING, &priv->state);
 }
 
 struct net_device *