diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/emulex/benet/be_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/emulex/benet/be_main.c
index 26255862d1cf..7524a33b7032 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/emulex/benet/be_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/emulex/benet/be_main.c
@@ -4307,8 +4307,12 @@ int be_update_queues(struct be_adapter *adapter)
 	struct net_device *netdev = adapter->netdev;
 	int status;
 
-	if (netif_running(netdev))
+	if (netif_running(netdev)) {
+		/* device cannot transmit now, avoid dev_watchdog timeouts */
+		netif_carrier_off(netdev);
+
 		be_close(netdev);
+	}
 
 	be_cancel_worker(adapter);