diff --git a/vmkdrivers/src_9/drivers/net/ixgbe/ixgbe_common.c b/vmkdrivers/src_9/drivers/net/ixgbe/ixgbe_common.c
index 57342360091e244789372b6a17b954039db6c65b..775da33390275f850a871a0458de4fb5133e0e47 100644
--- a/vmkdrivers/src_9/drivers/net/ixgbe/ixgbe_common.c
+++ b/vmkdrivers/src_9/drivers/net/ixgbe/ixgbe_common.c
@@ -2951,11 +2951,13 @@ s32 ixgbe_check_mac_link_generic(struct ixgbe_hw *hw, ixgbe_link_speed *speed,
 	else
 		*speed = IXGBE_LINK_SPEED_100_FULL;
 
+#ifndef __VMKLNX__
 	/* if link is down, zero out the current_mode */
 	if (*link_up == false) {
 		hw->fc.current_mode = ixgbe_fc_none;
 		hw->fc.fc_was_autonegged = false;
 	}
+#endif
 
 	return 0;
 }