diff --git a/drivers/net/e1000/igb_ethdev.c b/drivers/net/e1000/igb_ethdev.c
index 23b48d161c..2c1f2314e8 100644
--- a/drivers/net/e1000/igb_ethdev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/e1000/igb_ethdev.c
@@ -884,6 +884,8 @@ eth_igb_dev_init(struct rte_eth_dev *eth_dev)
 	/* enable support intr */
 	igb_intr_enable(eth_dev);
 
+	eth_igb_dev_set_link_down(eth_dev);
+
 	/* initialize filter info */
 	memset(filter_info, 0,
 	       sizeof(struct e1000_filter_info));