diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c
index dc5b3c06d1e0..538b7aa43fa5 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c
@@ -131,6 +131,30 @@ enum iavf_status iavf_free_virt_mem_d(struct iavf_hw *hw,
 	return 0;
 }
 
+/**
+ * iavf_timeout - try to set bit but give up after timeout
+ * @adapter: board private structure
+ * @bit: bit to set
+ * @msecs: timeout in msecs
+ *
+ * Returns 0 on success, negative on failure
+ **/
+static inline int iavf_lock_timeout(struct iavf_adapter *adapter,
+				    enum iavf_critical_section_t bit,
+				    unsigned int msecs)
+{
+	unsigned int wait, delay = 10;
+
+	for (wait = 0; wait < msecs; wait += delay) {
+		if (!test_and_set_bit(bit, &adapter->crit_section))
+			return 0;
+
+		msleep(delay);
+	}
+
+	return -1;
+}
+
 /**
  * iavf_schedule_reset - Set the flags and schedule a reset event
  * @adapter: board private structure
@@ -2069,6 +2093,10 @@ static void iavf_reset_task(struct work_struct *work)
 	if (test_bit(__IAVF_IN_REMOVE_TASK, &adapter->crit_section))
 		return;
 
+	if (iavf_lock_timeout(adapter, __IAVF_IN_CRITICAL_TASK, 200)) {
+		schedule_work(&adapter->reset_task);
+		return;
+	}
 	while (test_and_set_bit(__IAVF_IN_CLIENT_TASK,
 				&adapter->crit_section))
 		usleep_range(500, 1000);
@@ -2275,6 +2303,8 @@ static void iavf_adminq_task(struct work_struct *work)
 	if (!event.msg_buf)
 		goto out;
 
+	if (iavf_lock_timeout(adapter, __IAVF_IN_CRITICAL_TASK, 200))
+		goto freedom;
 	do {
 		ret = iavf_clean_arq_element(hw, &event, &pending);
 		v_op = (enum virtchnl_ops)le32_to_cpu(event.desc.cookie_high);
@@ -2288,6 +2318,7 @@ static void iavf_adminq_task(struct work_struct *work)
 		if (pending != 0)
 			memset(event.msg_buf, 0, IAVF_MAX_AQ_BUF_SIZE);
 	} while (pending);
+	clear_bit(__IAVF_IN_CRITICAL_TASK, &adapter->crit_section);
 
 	if ((adapter->flags &
 	     (IAVF_FLAG_RESET_PENDING | IAVF_FLAG_RESET_NEEDED)) ||
@@ -3590,6 +3621,10 @@ static void iavf_init_task(struct work_struct *work)
 						    init_task.work);
 	struct iavf_hw *hw = &adapter->hw;
 
+	if (iavf_lock_timeout(adapter, __IAVF_IN_CRITICAL_TASK, 5000)) {
+		dev_warn(&adapter->pdev->dev, "failed to set __IAVF_IN_CRITICAL_TASK in %s\n", __FUNCTION__);
+		return;
+	}
 	switch (adapter->state) {
 	case __IAVF_STARTUP:
 		if (iavf_startup(adapter) < 0)
@@ -3602,14 +3637,14 @@ static void iavf_init_task(struct work_struct *work)
 	case __IAVF_INIT_GET_RESOURCES:
 		if (iavf_init_get_resources(adapter) < 0)
 			goto init_failed;
-		return;
+		goto out;
 	default:
 		goto init_failed;
 	}
 
 	queue_delayed_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->init_task,
 			   msecs_to_jiffies(30));
-	return;
+	goto out;
 init_failed:
 	if (++adapter->aq_wait_count > IAVF_AQ_MAX_ERR) {
 		dev_err(&adapter->pdev->dev,
@@ -3618,9 +3653,11 @@ static void iavf_init_task(struct work_struct *work)
 		iavf_shutdown_adminq(hw);
 		adapter->state = __IAVF_STARTUP;
 		queue_delayed_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->init_task, HZ * 5);
-		return;
+		goto out;
 	}
 	queue_delayed_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->init_task, HZ);
+out:
+	clear_bit(__IAVF_IN_CRITICAL_TASK, &adapter->crit_section);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -3637,9 +3674,12 @@ static void iavf_shutdown(struct pci_dev *pdev)
 	if (netif_running(netdev))
 		iavf_close(netdev);
 
+	if (iavf_lock_timeout(adapter, __IAVF_IN_CRITICAL_TASK, 5000))
+		dev_warn(&adapter->pdev->dev, "failed to set __IAVF_IN_CRITICAL_TASK in %s\n", __FUNCTION__);
 	/* Prevent the watchdog from running. */
 	adapter->state = __IAVF_REMOVE;
 	adapter->aq_required = 0;
+	clear_bit(__IAVF_IN_CRITICAL_TASK, &adapter->crit_section);
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_PM
 	pci_save_state(pdev);
@@ -3866,10 +3906,6 @@ static void iavf_remove(struct pci_dev *pdev)
 				 err);
 	}
 
-	/* Shut down all the garbage mashers on the detention level */
-	adapter->state = __IAVF_REMOVE;
-	adapter->aq_required = 0;
-	adapter->flags &= ~IAVF_FLAG_REINIT_ITR_NEEDED;
 	iavf_request_reset(adapter);
 	msleep(50);
 	/* If the FW isn't responding, kick it once, but only once. */
@@ -3877,6 +3913,13 @@ static void iavf_remove(struct pci_dev *pdev)
 		iavf_request_reset(adapter);
 		msleep(50);
 	}
+	if (iavf_lock_timeout(adapter, __IAVF_IN_CRITICAL_TASK, 5000))
+		dev_warn(&adapter->pdev->dev, "failed to set __IAVF_IN_CRITICAL_TASK in %s\n", __FUNCTION__);
+
+	/* Shut down all the garbage mashers on the detention level */
+	adapter->state = __IAVF_REMOVE;
+	adapter->aq_required = 0;
+	adapter->flags &= ~IAVF_FLAG_REINIT_ITR_NEEDED;
 	iavf_free_all_tx_resources(adapter);
 	iavf_free_all_rx_resources(adapter);
 	iavf_misc_irq_disable(adapter);
