diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c
index efc7735ece30..3dad834b9b8e 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/iavf/iavf_main.c
@@ -1033,7 +1033,7 @@ int iavf_replace_primary_mac(struct iavf_adapter *adapter,
 
 	/* schedule the watchdog task to immediately process the request */
 	if (f) {
-		queue_work(adapter->wq, &adapter->watchdog_task.work);
+		mod_delayed_work(adapter->wq, &adapter->watchdog_task, 0);
 		return 0;
 	}
 	return -ENOMEM;