diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c
index c1f91c55e1ca..650a969a69a1 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c
@@ -3300,7 +3300,7 @@ static void iavf_adminq_task(struct work_struct *work)
 	event.buf_len = IAVF_MAX_AQ_BUF_SIZE;
 	event.msg_buf = kzalloc(event.buf_len, GFP_KERNEL);
 	if (!event.msg_buf)
-		goto out;
+		goto unlock;
 
 	do {
 		ret = iavf_clean_arq_element(hw, &event, &pending);
@@ -3315,7 +3315,6 @@ static void iavf_adminq_task(struct work_struct *work)
 		if (pending != 0)
 			memset(event.msg_buf, 0, IAVF_MAX_AQ_BUF_SIZE);
 	} while (pending);
-	mutex_unlock(&adapter->crit_lock);
 
 	if (iavf_is_reset_in_progress(adapter))
 		goto freedom;
@@ -3359,6 +3358,8 @@ static void iavf_adminq_task(struct work_struct *work)
 
 freedom:
 	kfree(event.msg_buf);
+unlock:
+	mutex_unlock(&adapter->crit_lock);
 out:
 	/* re-enable Admin queue interrupt cause */
 	iavf_misc_irq_enable(adapter);