return -1;
        hw->mac.start_hw(hw);
        hw->mac.get_link_status = true;
+       hw->dev_start = true;
 
        /* configure PF module if SRIOV enabled */
        txgbe_pf_host_configure(dev);
 
        hw->adapter_stopped = true;
        dev->data->dev_started = 0;
+       hw->dev_start = false;
 
        return 0;
 }
                                txgbe_dev_setup_link_alarm_handler, dev);
                }
                return rte_eth_linkstatus_set(dev, &link);
+       } else if (!hw->dev_start) {
+               return rte_eth_linkstatus_set(dev, &link);
        }
 
        intr->flags &= ~TXGBE_FLAG_NEED_LINK_CONFIG;
 
                return err;
        }
        hw->mac.get_link_status = true;
+       hw->dev_start = true;
 
        /* negotiate mailbox API version to use with the PF. */
        txgbevf_negotiate_api(hw);
        }
 
        adapter->rss_reta_updated = 0;
+       hw->dev_start = false;
 
        return 0;
 }