diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40e/i40e_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40e/i40e_main.c
index 7147c67a939d..d83430faaa41 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40e/i40e_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40e/i40e_main.c
@@ -11395,6 +11395,11 @@ static void i40e_remove(struct pci_dev *pdev)
 	if (pf->service_task.func)
 		cancel_work_sync(&pf->service_task);
 
+	/* Client close must be called explicitly here because the timer
+	 * has been stopped.
+	 */
+	i40e_notify_client_of_netdev_close(pf->vsi[pf->lan_vsi], false);
+
 	if (pf->flags & I40E_FLAG_SRIOV_ENABLED) {
 		i40e_free_vfs(pf);
 		pf->flags &= ~I40E_FLAG_SRIOV_ENABLED;
@@ -11635,6 +11640,11 @@ static void i40e_shutdown(struct pci_dev *pdev)
 	cancel_work_sync(&pf->service_task);
 	i40e_fdir_teardown(pf);
 
+	/* Client close must be called explicitly here because the timer
+	 * has been stopped.
+	 */
+	i40e_notify_client_of_netdev_close(pf->vsi[pf->lan_vsi], false);
+
 	if (pf->wol_en && (pf->flags & I40E_FLAG_WOL_MC_MAGIC_PKT_WAKE))
 		i40e_enable_mc_magic_wake(pf);