diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf.h
index 0d1bab4ac1b0..2a9f1eeeb701 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf.h
@@ -249,6 +249,7 @@ struct iavf_cloud_filter {
 
 /* board specific private data structure */
 struct iavf_adapter {
+	struct workqueue_struct *wq;
 	struct work_struct reset_task;
 	struct work_struct adminq_task;
 	struct delayed_work client_task;
@@ -459,7 +460,6 @@ struct iavf_device {
 
 /* needed by iavf_ethtool.c */
 extern char iavf_driver_name[];
-extern struct workqueue_struct *iavf_wq;
 
 static inline const char *iavf_state_str(enum iavf_state_t state)
 {
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_ethtool.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_ethtool.c
index a056e1545615..83cfc54a4706 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_ethtool.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_ethtool.c
@@ -532,7 +532,7 @@ static int iavf_set_priv_flags(struct net_device *netdev, u32 flags)
 	if (changed_flags & IAVF_FLAG_LEGACY_RX) {
 		if (netif_running(netdev)) {
 			adapter->flags |= IAVF_FLAG_RESET_NEEDED;
-			queue_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->reset_task);
+			queue_work(adapter->wq, &adapter->reset_task);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -672,7 +672,7 @@ static int iavf_set_ringparam(struct net_device *netdev,
 
 	if (netif_running(netdev)) {
 		adapter->flags |= IAVF_FLAG_RESET_NEEDED;
-		queue_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->reset_task);
+		queue_work(adapter->wq, &adapter->reset_task);
 	}
 
 	return 0;
@@ -1433,7 +1433,7 @@ static int iavf_add_fdir_ethtool(struct iavf_adapter *adapter, struct ethtool_rx
 	adapter->aq_required |= IAVF_FLAG_AQ_ADD_FDIR_FILTER;
 	spin_unlock_bh(&adapter->fdir_fltr_lock);
 
-	mod_delayed_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->watchdog_task, 0);
+	mod_delayed_work(adapter->wq, &adapter->watchdog_task, 0);
 
 ret:
 	if (err && fltr)
@@ -1474,7 +1474,7 @@ static int iavf_del_fdir_ethtool(struct iavf_adapter *adapter, struct ethtool_rx
 	spin_unlock_bh(&adapter->fdir_fltr_lock);
 
 	if (fltr && fltr->state == IAVF_FDIR_FLTR_DEL_REQUEST)
-		mod_delayed_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->watchdog_task, 0);
+		mod_delayed_work(adapter->wq, &adapter->watchdog_task, 0);
 
 	return err;
 }
@@ -1658,7 +1658,7 @@ iavf_set_adv_rss_hash_opt(struct iavf_adapter *adapter,
 	spin_unlock_bh(&adapter->adv_rss_lock);
 
 	if (!err)
-		mod_delayed_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->watchdog_task, 0);
+		mod_delayed_work(adapter->wq, &adapter->watchdog_task, 0);
 
 	mutex_unlock(&adapter->crit_lock);
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c
index f71e132ede09..02b68624b6ba 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c
@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@ MODULE_DESCRIPTION("Intel(R) Ethernet Adaptive Virtual Function Network Driver")
 MODULE_LICENSE("GPL v2");
 
 static const struct net_device_ops iavf_netdev_ops;
-struct workqueue_struct *iavf_wq;
 
 int iavf_status_to_errno(enum iavf_status status)
 {
@@ -277,7 +276,7 @@ void iavf_schedule_reset(struct iavf_adapter *adapter)
 	if (!(adapter->flags &
 	      (IAVF_FLAG_RESET_PENDING | IAVF_FLAG_RESET_NEEDED))) {
 		adapter->flags |= IAVF_FLAG_RESET_NEEDED;
-		queue_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->reset_task);
+		queue_work(adapter->wq, &adapter->reset_task);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -291,7 +290,7 @@ void iavf_schedule_reset(struct iavf_adapter *adapter)
 void iavf_schedule_request_stats(struct iavf_adapter *adapter)
 {
 	adapter->aq_required |= IAVF_FLAG_AQ_REQUEST_STATS;
-	mod_delayed_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->watchdog_task, 0);
+	mod_delayed_work(adapter->wq, &adapter->watchdog_task, 0);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -411,7 +410,7 @@ static irqreturn_t iavf_msix_aq(int irq, void *data)
 
 	if (adapter->state != __IAVF_REMOVE)
 		/* schedule work on the private workqueue */
-		queue_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->adminq_task);
+		queue_work(adapter->wq, &adapter->adminq_task);
 
 	return IRQ_HANDLED;
 }
@@ -1034,7 +1033,7 @@ int iavf_replace_primary_mac(struct iavf_adapter *adapter,
 
 	/* schedule the watchdog task to immediately process the request */
 	if (f) {
-		queue_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->watchdog_task.work);
+		queue_work(adapter->wq, &adapter->watchdog_task.work);
 		return 0;
 	}
 	return -ENOMEM;
@@ -1257,7 +1256,7 @@ static void iavf_up_complete(struct iavf_adapter *adapter)
 	adapter->aq_required |= IAVF_FLAG_AQ_ENABLE_QUEUES;
 	if (CLIENT_ENABLED(adapter))
 		adapter->flags |= IAVF_FLAG_CLIENT_NEEDS_OPEN;
-	mod_delayed_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->watchdog_task, 0);
+	mod_delayed_work(adapter->wq, &adapter->watchdog_task, 0);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -1414,7 +1413,7 @@ void iavf_down(struct iavf_adapter *adapter)
 		adapter->aq_required |= IAVF_FLAG_AQ_DISABLE_QUEUES;
 	}
 
-	mod_delayed_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->watchdog_task, 0);
+	mod_delayed_work(adapter->wq, &adapter->watchdog_task, 0);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -2248,7 +2247,7 @@ iavf_set_vlan_offload_features(struct iavf_adapter *adapter,
 
 	if (aq_required) {
 		adapter->aq_required |= aq_required;
-		mod_delayed_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->watchdog_task, 0);
+		mod_delayed_work(adapter->wq, &adapter->watchdog_task, 0);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -2700,7 +2699,7 @@ static void iavf_watchdog_task(struct work_struct *work)
 		adapter->aq_required = 0;
 		adapter->current_op = VIRTCHNL_OP_UNKNOWN;
 		mutex_unlock(&adapter->crit_lock);
-		queue_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->reset_task);
+		queue_work(adapter->wq, &adapter->reset_task);
 		return;
 	}
 
@@ -2708,31 +2707,31 @@ static void iavf_watchdog_task(struct work_struct *work)
 	case __IAVF_STARTUP:
 		iavf_startup(adapter);
 		mutex_unlock(&adapter->crit_lock);
-		queue_delayed_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->watchdog_task,
+		queue_delayed_work(adapter->wq, &adapter->watchdog_task,
 				   msecs_to_jiffies(30));
 		return;
 	case __IAVF_INIT_VERSION_CHECK:
 		iavf_init_version_check(adapter);
 		mutex_unlock(&adapter->crit_lock);
-		queue_delayed_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->watchdog_task,
+		queue_delayed_work(adapter->wq, &adapter->watchdog_task,
 				   msecs_to_jiffies(30));
 		return;
 	case __IAVF_INIT_GET_RESOURCES:
 		iavf_init_get_resources(adapter);
 		mutex_unlock(&adapter->crit_lock);
-		queue_delayed_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->watchdog_task,
+		queue_delayed_work(adapter->wq, &adapter->watchdog_task,
 				   msecs_to_jiffies(1));
 		return;
 	case __IAVF_INIT_EXTENDED_CAPS:
 		iavf_init_process_extended_caps(adapter);
 		mutex_unlock(&adapter->crit_lock);
-		queue_delayed_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->watchdog_task,
+		queue_delayed_work(adapter->wq, &adapter->watchdog_task,
 				   msecs_to_jiffies(1));
 		return;
 	case __IAVF_INIT_CONFIG_ADAPTER:
 		iavf_init_config_adapter(adapter);
 		mutex_unlock(&adapter->crit_lock);
-		queue_delayed_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->watchdog_task,
+		queue_delayed_work(adapter->wq, &adapter->watchdog_task,
 				   msecs_to_jiffies(1));
 		return;
 	case __IAVF_INIT_FAILED:
@@ -2751,14 +2750,14 @@ static void iavf_watchdog_task(struct work_struct *work)
 			adapter->flags |= IAVF_FLAG_PF_COMMS_FAILED;
 			iavf_shutdown_adminq(hw);
 			mutex_unlock(&adapter->crit_lock);
-			queue_delayed_work(iavf_wq,
+			queue_delayed_work(adapter->wq,
 					   &adapter->watchdog_task, (5 * HZ));
 			return;
 		}
 		/* Try again from failed step*/
 		iavf_change_state(adapter, adapter->last_state);
 		mutex_unlock(&adapter->crit_lock);
-		queue_delayed_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->watchdog_task, HZ);
+		queue_delayed_work(adapter->wq, &adapter->watchdog_task, HZ);
 		return;
 	case __IAVF_COMM_FAILED:
 		if (test_bit(__IAVF_IN_REMOVE_TASK,
@@ -2789,13 +2788,14 @@ static void iavf_watchdog_task(struct work_struct *work)
 		adapter->aq_required = 0;
 		adapter->current_op = VIRTCHNL_OP_UNKNOWN;
 		mutex_unlock(&adapter->crit_lock);
-		queue_delayed_work(iavf_wq,
+		queue_delayed_work(adapter->wq,
 				   &adapter->watchdog_task,
 				   msecs_to_jiffies(10));
 		return;
 	case __IAVF_RESETTING:
 		mutex_unlock(&adapter->crit_lock);
-		queue_delayed_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->watchdog_task, HZ * 2);
+		queue_delayed_work(adapter->wq, &adapter->watchdog_task,
+				   HZ * 2);
 		return;
 	case __IAVF_DOWN:
 	case __IAVF_DOWN_PENDING:
@@ -2834,9 +2834,9 @@ static void iavf_watchdog_task(struct work_struct *work)
 		adapter->aq_required = 0;
 		adapter->current_op = VIRTCHNL_OP_UNKNOWN;
 		dev_err(&adapter->pdev->dev, "Hardware reset detected\n");
-		queue_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->reset_task);
+		queue_work(adapter->wq, &adapter->reset_task);
 		mutex_unlock(&adapter->crit_lock);
-		queue_delayed_work(iavf_wq,
+		queue_delayed_work(adapter->wq,
 				   &adapter->watchdog_task, HZ * 2);
 		return;
 	}
@@ -2845,12 +2845,13 @@ static void iavf_watchdog_task(struct work_struct *work)
 	mutex_unlock(&adapter->crit_lock);
 restart_watchdog:
 	if (adapter->state >= __IAVF_DOWN)
-		queue_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->adminq_task);
+		queue_work(adapter->wq, &adapter->adminq_task);
 	if (adapter->aq_required)
-		queue_delayed_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->watchdog_task,
+		queue_delayed_work(adapter->wq, &adapter->watchdog_task,
 				   msecs_to_jiffies(20));
 	else
-		queue_delayed_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->watchdog_task, HZ * 2);
+		queue_delayed_work(adapter->wq, &adapter->watchdog_task,
+				   HZ * 2);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -2952,7 +2953,7 @@ static void iavf_reset_task(struct work_struct *work)
 	 */
 	if (!mutex_trylock(&adapter->crit_lock)) {
 		if (adapter->state != __IAVF_REMOVE)
-			queue_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->reset_task);
+			queue_work(adapter->wq, &adapter->reset_task);
 
 		goto reset_finish;
 	}
@@ -3116,7 +3117,7 @@ static void iavf_reset_task(struct work_struct *work)
 	bitmap_clear(adapter->vsi.active_cvlans, 0, VLAN_N_VID);
 	bitmap_clear(adapter->vsi.active_svlans, 0, VLAN_N_VID);
 
-	mod_delayed_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->watchdog_task, 2);
+	mod_delayed_work(adapter->wq, &adapter->watchdog_task, 2);
 
 	/* We were running when the reset started, so we need to restore some
 	 * state here.
@@ -3208,7 +3209,7 @@ static void iavf_adminq_task(struct work_struct *work)
 		if (adapter->state == __IAVF_REMOVE)
 			return;
 
-		queue_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->adminq_task);
+		queue_work(adapter->wq, &adapter->adminq_task);
 		goto out;
 	}
 
@@ -4349,7 +4350,7 @@ static int iavf_change_mtu(struct net_device *netdev, int new_mtu)
 
 	if (netif_running(netdev)) {
 		adapter->flags |= IAVF_FLAG_RESET_NEEDED;
-		queue_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->reset_task);
+		queue_work(adapter->wq, &adapter->reset_task);
 	}
 
 	return 0;
@@ -4898,6 +4899,13 @@ static int iavf_probe(struct pci_dev *pdev, const struct pci_device_id *ent)
 	hw = &adapter->hw;
 	hw->back = adapter;
 
+	adapter->wq = alloc_ordered_workqueue("%s", WQ_MEM_RECLAIM,
+					      iavf_driver_name);
+	if (!adapter->wq) {
+		err = -ENOMEM;
+		goto err_alloc_wq;
+	}
+
 	adapter->msg_enable = BIT(DEFAULT_DEBUG_LEVEL_SHIFT) - 1;
 	iavf_change_state(adapter, __IAVF_STARTUP);
 
@@ -4942,7 +4950,7 @@ static int iavf_probe(struct pci_dev *pdev, const struct pci_device_id *ent)
 	INIT_WORK(&adapter->adminq_task, iavf_adminq_task);
 	INIT_DELAYED_WORK(&adapter->watchdog_task, iavf_watchdog_task);
 	INIT_DELAYED_WORK(&adapter->client_task, iavf_client_task);
-	queue_delayed_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->watchdog_task,
+	queue_delayed_work(adapter->wq, &adapter->watchdog_task,
 			   msecs_to_jiffies(5 * (pdev->devfn & 0x07)));
 
 	/* Setup the wait queue for indicating transition to down status */
@@ -4954,6 +4962,8 @@ static int iavf_probe(struct pci_dev *pdev, const struct pci_device_id *ent)
 	return 0;
 
 err_ioremap:
+	destroy_workqueue(adapter->wq);
+err_alloc_wq:
 	free_netdev(netdev);
 err_alloc_etherdev:
 	pci_disable_pcie_error_reporting(pdev);
@@ -5023,7 +5033,7 @@ static int __maybe_unused iavf_resume(struct device *dev_d)
 		return err;
 	}
 
-	queue_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->reset_task);
+	queue_work(adapter->wq, &adapter->reset_task);
 
 	netif_device_attach(adapter->netdev);
 
@@ -5170,6 +5180,8 @@ static void iavf_remove(struct pci_dev *pdev)
 	}
 	spin_unlock_bh(&adapter->adv_rss_lock);
 
+	destroy_workqueue(adapter->wq);
+
 	free_netdev(netdev);
 
 	pci_disable_pcie_error_reporting(pdev);
@@ -5202,18 +5214,7 @@ static int __init iavf_init_module(void)
 
 	pr_info("%s\n", iavf_copyright);
 
-	iavf_wq = alloc_workqueue("%s", WQ_UNBOUND | WQ_MEM_RECLAIM, 1,
-				  iavf_driver_name);
-	if (!iavf_wq) {
-		pr_err("%s: Failed to create workqueue\n", iavf_driver_name);
-		return -ENOMEM;
-	}
-
-	ret = pci_register_driver(&iavf_driver);
-	if (ret)
-		destroy_workqueue(iavf_wq);
-
-	return ret;
+	return pci_register_driver(&iavf_driver);
 }
 
 module_init(iavf_init_module);
@@ -5227,7 +5228,6 @@ module_init(iavf_init_module);
 static void __exit iavf_exit_module(void)
 {
 	pci_unregister_driver(&iavf_driver);
-	destroy_workqueue(iavf_wq);
 }
 
 module_exit(iavf_exit_module);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_virtchnl.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_virtchnl.c
index 24a701fd140e..0752fd67c96e 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_virtchnl.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_virtchnl.c
@@ -1952,7 +1952,7 @@ void iavf_virtchnl_completion(struct iavf_adapter *adapter,
 			if (!(adapter->flags & IAVF_FLAG_RESET_PENDING)) {
 				adapter->flags |= IAVF_FLAG_RESET_PENDING;
 				dev_info(&adapter->pdev->dev, "Scheduling reset task\n");
-				queue_work(iavf_wq, &adapter->reset_task);
+				queue_work(adapter->wq, &adapter->reset_task);
 			}
 			break;
 		default:
