diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/igb/igb_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/igb/igb_main.c
index 0ea8e4024d63..c5f465814dec 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/igb/igb_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/igb/igb_main.c
@@ -3821,9 +3821,7 @@ static void igb_remove(struct pci_dev *pdev)
 	igb_release_hw_control(adapter);
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_PCI_IOV
-	rtnl_lock();
 	igb_disable_sriov(pdev);
-	rtnl_unlock();
 #endif
 
 	unregister_netdev(netdev);