diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40evf/i40evf_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40evf/i40evf_main.c
index 5fc820412fca..49fa71c69128 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40evf/i40evf_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40evf/i40evf_main.c
@@ -2510,6 +2510,7 @@ static int i40evf_resume(struct pci_dev *pdev)
 	rtnl_lock();
 	err = i40evf_set_interrupt_capability(adapter);
 	if (err) {
+		rtnl_unlock();
 		dev_err(&pdev->dev, "Cannot enable MSI-X interrupts.\n");
 		return err;
 	}