diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_sriov.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_sriov.c
index b7efe27f845c..e8706e19f96f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_sriov.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_sriov.c
@@ -2786,6 +2786,18 @@ int bnx2x_vf_init(struct bnx2x *bp, struct bnx2x_virtf *vf, dma_addr_t *sb_map)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+struct set_vf_state_cookie {
+	struct bnx2x_virtf *vf;
+	u8 state;
+};
+
+void bnx2x_set_vf_state(void *cookie)
+{
+	struct set_vf_state_cookie *p = (struct set_vf_state_cookie *)cookie;
+
+	p->vf->state = p->state;
+}
+
 /* VFOP close (teardown the queues, delete mcasts and close HW) */
 static void bnx2x_vfop_close(struct bnx2x *bp, struct bnx2x_virtf *vf)
 {
@@ -2836,7 +2848,19 @@ static void bnx2x_vfop_close(struct bnx2x *bp, struct bnx2x_virtf *vf)
 op_err:
 	BNX2X_ERR("VF[%d] CLOSE error: rc %d\n", vf->abs_vfid, vfop->rc);
 op_done:
-	vf->state = VF_ACQUIRED;
+
+	/* need to make sure there are no outstanding stats ramrods which may
+	 * cause the device to access the VF's stats buffer which it will free
+	 * as soon as we return from the close flow.
+	 */
+	{
+		struct set_vf_state_cookie cookie;
+
+		cookie.vf = vf;
+		cookie.state = VF_ACQUIRED;
+		bnx2x_stats_safe_exec(bp, bnx2x_set_vf_state, &cookie);
+	}
+
 	DP(BNX2X_MSG_IOV, "set state to acquired\n");
 	bnx2x_vfop_end(bp, vf, vfop);
 }
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_stats.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_stats.c
index fed9b1543b9f..86436c77af03 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_stats.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_stats.c
@@ -1993,3 +1993,14 @@ void bnx2x_afex_collect_stats(struct bnx2x *bp, void *void_afex_stats,
 		       estats->mac_discard);
 	}
 }
+
+void bnx2x_stats_safe_exec(struct bnx2x *bp,
+			   void (func_to_exec)(void *cookie),
+			   void *cookie){
+	if (down_timeout(&bp->stats_sema, HZ/10))
+		BNX2X_ERR("Unable to acquire stats lock\n");
+	bnx2x_stats_comp(bp);
+	func_to_exec(cookie);
+	__bnx2x_stats_start(bp);
+	up(&bp->stats_sema);
+}
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_stats.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_stats.h
index 853824d258e8..f35845006cdd 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_stats.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_stats.h
@@ -539,6 +539,9 @@ struct bnx2x;
 void bnx2x_memset_stats(struct bnx2x *bp);
 void bnx2x_stats_init(struct bnx2x *bp);
 void bnx2x_stats_handle(struct bnx2x *bp, enum bnx2x_stats_event event);
+void bnx2x_stats_safe_exec(struct bnx2x *bp,
+			   void (func_to_exec)(void *cookie),
+			   void *cookie);
 
 /**
  * bnx2x_save_statistics - save statistics when unloading.