diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/igb/igb_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/igb/igb_main.c
index 87f98170ac93..6f9d563deb6b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/igb/igb_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/igb/igb_main.c
@@ -3700,9 +3700,7 @@ 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);