diff --git a/drivers/infiniband/hw/i40iw/i40iw_main.c b/drivers/infiniband/hw/i40iw/i40iw_main.c
index 6e9081380a27..0cbbe4038298 100644
--- a/drivers/infiniband/hw/i40iw/i40iw_main.c
+++ b/drivers/infiniband/hw/i40iw/i40iw_main.c
@@ -1558,6 +1558,10 @@ static int i40iw_open(struct i40e_info *ldev, struct i40e_client *client)
 	enum i40iw_status_code status;
 	struct i40iw_handler *hdl;
 
+	hdl = i40iw_find_netdev(ldev->netdev);
+	if (hdl)
+		return 0;
+
 	hdl = kzalloc(sizeof(*hdl), GFP_KERNEL);
 	if (!hdl)
 		return -ENOMEM;