diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40evf/i40evf_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40evf/i40evf_main.c
index 7138ab483625..8082a9fa5d10 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40evf/i40evf_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40evf/i40evf_main.c
@@ -2018,6 +2018,10 @@ static void i40evf_init_task(struct work_struct *work)
 		if (err) {
 			dev_info(&pdev->dev, "Unable to verify API version (%d), retrying\n",
 				err);
+			if (err == I40E_ERR_ADMIN_QUEUE_NO_WORK) {
+				dev_info(&pdev->dev, "Resending request\n");
+				err = i40evf_send_api_ver(adapter);
+			}
 			goto err;
 		}
 		err = i40evf_send_vf_config_msg(adapter);