diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbevf/ixgbevf.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbevf/ixgbevf.h
index 0cbce49672d0..ed19f7e378a2 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbevf/ixgbevf.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbevf/ixgbevf.h
@@ -231,7 +231,6 @@ struct ixgbevf_adapter {
 	bool link_up;
 
 	struct work_struct watchdog_task;
-	bool netdev_registered;
 };
 
 enum ixbgevf_state_t {
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbevf/ixgbevf_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbevf/ixgbevf_main.c
index 31327711c89e..3cd865110a1a 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbevf/ixgbevf_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbevf/ixgbevf_main.c
@@ -3297,8 +3297,6 @@ static int __devinit ixgbevf_probe(struct pci_dev *pdev,
 	if (err)
 		goto err_register;
 
-	adapter->netdev_registered = true;
-
 	netif_carrier_off(netdev);
 
 	ixgbevf_init_last_counter_stats(adapter);
@@ -3347,10 +3345,8 @@ static void __devexit ixgbevf_remove(struct pci_dev *pdev)
 	cancel_work_sync(&adapter->reset_task);
 	cancel_work_sync(&adapter->watchdog_task);
 
-	if (adapter->netdev_registered) {
+	if (netdev->reg_state == NETREG_REGISTERED)
 		unregister_netdev(netdev);
-		adapter->netdev_registered = false;
-	}
 
 	ixgbevf_reset_interrupt_capability(adapter);