diff --git a/drivers/net/ixgbe/ixgbe_main.c b/drivers/net/ixgbe/ixgbe_main.c
index 88e6936..b755364 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ixgbe/ixgbe_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ixgbe/ixgbe_main.c
@@ -2709,7 +2709,7 @@
 	int max_frame = netdev->mtu + ETH_HLEN + ETH_FCS_LEN;
 	int i;
 	u32 rxctrl;
-	u32 fctrl, hlreg0;
+	u32 hlreg0;
 	u32 rdrxctl;
 	int rx_buf_len;
 
@@ -2731,12 +2731,6 @@
 			rx_buf_len = ALIGN(max_frame, 1024);
 	}
 
-	fctrl = IXGBE_READ_REG(&adapter->hw, IXGBE_FCTRL);
-	fctrl |= IXGBE_FCTRL_BAM;
-	fctrl |= IXGBE_FCTRL_DPF; /* discard pause frames when FC enabled */
-	fctrl |= IXGBE_FCTRL_PMCF;
-	IXGBE_WRITE_REG(&adapter->hw, IXGBE_FCTRL, fctrl);
-
 	hlreg0 = IXGBE_READ_REG(hw, IXGBE_HLREG0);
 	if (adapter->netdev->mtu <= ETH_DATA_LEN)
 		hlreg0 &= ~IXGBE_HLREG0_JUMBOEN;
@@ -3055,6 +3049,11 @@
 
 	fctrl = IXGBE_READ_REG(hw, IXGBE_FCTRL);
 
+	/* set all bits that we expect to always be set */
+	fctrl |= IXGBE_FCTRL_BAM;
+	fctrl |= IXGBE_FCTRL_DPF; /* discard pause frames when FC enabled */
+	fctrl |= IXGBE_FCTRL_PMCF;
+
 	/* clear the bits we are changing the status of */
 	fctrl &= ~(IXGBE_FCTRL_UPE | IXGBE_FCTRL_MPE);