diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40e/i40e_client.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40e/i40e_client.c
index ea2bb0140a6eb0..10d7a982a5b9b7 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40e/i40e_client.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40e/i40e_client.c
@@ -177,6 +177,10 @@ void i40e_notify_client_of_netdev_close(struct i40e_vsi *vsi, bool reset)
 			"Cannot locate client instance close routine\n");
 		return;
 	}
+	if (!test_bit(__I40E_CLIENT_INSTANCE_OPENED, &cdev->state)) {
+		dev_dbg(&pf->pdev->dev, "Client is not open, abort close\n");
+		return;
+	}
 	cdev->client->ops->close(&cdev->lan_info, cdev->client, reset);
 	clear_bit(__I40E_CLIENT_INSTANCE_OPENED, &cdev->state);
 	i40e_client_release_qvlist(&cdev->lan_info);
@@ -429,7 +433,6 @@ void i40e_client_subtask(struct i40e_pf *pf)
 				/* Remove failed client instance */
 				clear_bit(__I40E_CLIENT_INSTANCE_OPENED,
 					  &cdev->state);
-				i40e_client_del_instance(pf);
 				return;
 			}
 		}