diff --git a/drivers/net/benet/be.h b/drivers/net/benet/be.h
index 5e6f581..99197bd 100644
--- a/drivers/net/benet/be.h
+++ b/drivers/net/benet/be.h
@@ -289,6 +289,7 @@
 	u32 rx_fc;		/* Rx flow control */
 	u32 tx_fc;		/* Tx flow control */
 	bool ue_detected;
+	bool stats_ioctl_sent;
 	int link_speed;
 	u8 port_type;
 	u8 transceiver;
diff --git a/drivers/net/benet/be_cmds.c b/drivers/net/benet/be_cmds.c
index 7fd860d..3d30549 100644
--- a/drivers/net/benet/be_cmds.c
+++ b/drivers/net/benet/be_cmds.c
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@
 			be_dws_le_to_cpu(&resp->hw_stats,
 						sizeof(resp->hw_stats));
 			netdev_stats_update(adapter);
+			adapter->stats_ioctl_sent = false;
 		}
 	} else if ((compl_status != MCC_STATUS_NOT_SUPPORTED) &&
 		   (compl->tag0 != OPCODE_COMMON_NTWK_MAC_QUERY)) {
@@ -951,6 +952,7 @@
 	sge->len = cpu_to_le32(nonemb_cmd->size);
 
 	be_mcc_notify(adapter);
+	adapter->stats_ioctl_sent = true;
 
 err:
 	spin_unlock_bh(&adapter->mcc_lock);
diff --git a/drivers/net/benet/be_main.c b/drivers/net/benet/be_main.c
index e4a8ae3..74e146f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/benet/be_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/benet/be_main.c
@@ -1801,7 +1801,8 @@
 	struct be_adapter *adapter =
 		container_of(work, struct be_adapter, work.work);
 
-	be_cmd_get_stats(adapter, &adapter->stats.cmd);
+	if (!adapter->stats_ioctl_sent)
+		be_cmd_get_stats(adapter, &adapter->stats.cmd);
 
 	/* Set EQ delay */
 	be_rx_eqd_update(adapter);