diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40e/i40e_virtchnl_pf.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40e/i40e_virtchnl_pf.c
index 8564b0939dc4..7ab40ffd5a54 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40e/i40e_virtchnl_pf.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40e/i40e_virtchnl_pf.c
@@ -354,6 +354,7 @@ static int i40e_config_vsi_rx_queue(struct i40e_vf *vf, u16 vsi_idx,
 	rx_ctx.tphhead_ena = 1;
 	rx_ctx.lrxqthresh = 2;
 	rx_ctx.crcstrip = 1;
+	rx_ctx.prefena = 1;
 
 	/* clear the context in the HMC */
 	ret = i40e_clear_lan_rx_queue_context(hw, pf_queue_id);