diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_sriov.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_sriov.c
index 988db46bff0ee..214a38de3f415 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_sriov.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_sriov.c
@@ -467,12 +467,16 @@ static int ixgbe_set_vf_vlan(struct ixgbe_adapter *adapter, int add, int vid,
 	return err;
 }
 
-static s32 ixgbe_set_vf_lpe(struct ixgbe_adapter *adapter, u32 *msgbuf, u32 vf)
+static int ixgbe_set_vf_lpe(struct ixgbe_adapter *adapter, u32 max_frame, u32 vf)
 {
 	struct ixgbe_hw *hw = &adapter->hw;
-	int max_frame = msgbuf[1];
 	u32 max_frs;
 
+	if (max_frame < ETH_MIN_MTU || max_frame > IXGBE_MAX_JUMBO_FRAME_SIZE) {
+		e_err(drv, "VF max_frame %d out of range\n", max_frame);
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
 	/*
 	 * For 82599EB we have to keep all PFs and VFs operating with
 	 * the same max_frame value in order to avoid sending an oversize
@@ -533,12 +537,6 @@ static s32 ixgbe_set_vf_lpe(struct ixgbe_adapter *adapter, u32 *msgbuf, u32 vf)
 		}
 	}
 
-	/* MTU < 68 is an error and causes problems on some kernels */
-	if (max_frame > IXGBE_MAX_JUMBO_FRAME_SIZE) {
-		e_err(drv, "VF max_frame %d out of range\n", max_frame);
-		return -EINVAL;
-	}
-
 	/* pull current max frame size from hardware */
 	max_frs = IXGBE_READ_REG(hw, IXGBE_MAXFRS);
 	max_frs &= IXGBE_MHADD_MFS_MASK;
@@ -1249,7 +1247,7 @@ static int ixgbe_rcv_msg_from_vf(struct ixgbe_adapter *adapter, u32 vf)
 		retval = ixgbe_set_vf_vlan_msg(adapter, msgbuf, vf);
 		break;
 	case IXGBE_VF_SET_LPE:
-		retval = ixgbe_set_vf_lpe(adapter, msgbuf, vf);
+		retval = ixgbe_set_vf_lpe(adapter, msgbuf[1], vf);
 		break;
 	case IXGBE_VF_SET_MACVLAN:
 		retval = ixgbe_set_vf_macvlan_msg(adapter, msgbuf, vf);