diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/e1000e/netdev.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/e1000e/netdev.c
index b6b1cdf98096..4aafa05287a4 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/e1000e/netdev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/e1000e/netdev.c
@@ -7591,15 +7591,13 @@ static void e1000_remove(struct pci_dev *pdev)
 {
 	struct net_device *netdev = pci_get_drvdata(pdev);
 	struct e1000_adapter *adapter = netdev_priv(netdev);
-	bool down = test_bit(__E1000_DOWN, &adapter->state);
 
 	e1000e_ptp_remove(adapter);
 
 	/* The timers may be rescheduled, so explicitly disable them
 	 * from being rescheduled.
 	 */
-	if (!down)
-		set_bit(__E1000_DOWN, &adapter->state);
+	set_bit(__E1000_DOWN, &adapter->state);
 	del_timer_sync(&adapter->phy_info_timer);
 
 	cancel_work_sync(&adapter->reset_task);
@@ -7619,9 +7617,6 @@ static void e1000_remove(struct pci_dev *pdev)
 		}
 	}
 
-	/* Don't lie to e1000_close() down the road. */
-	if (!down)
-		clear_bit(__E1000_DOWN, &adapter->state);
 	unregister_netdev(netdev);
 
 	if (pci_dev_run_wake(pdev))