return ret_val;
 }
 
+/**
+ *  igb_obtain_mbx_lock_pf - obtain mailbox lock
+ *  @hw: pointer to the HW structure
+ *  @vf_number: the VF index
+ *
+ *  return SUCCESS if we obtained the mailbox lock
+ **/
+static s32 igb_obtain_mbx_lock_pf(struct e1000_hw *hw, u16 vf_number)
+{
+       s32 ret_val = -E1000_ERR_MBX;
+       u32 p2v_mailbox;
+
+
+       /* Take ownership of the buffer */
+       wr32(E1000_P2VMAILBOX(vf_number), E1000_P2VMAILBOX_PFU);
+
+       /* reserve mailbox for vf use */
+       p2v_mailbox = rd32(E1000_P2VMAILBOX(vf_number));
+       if (p2v_mailbox & E1000_P2VMAILBOX_PFU)
+               ret_val = 0;
+
+       return ret_val;
+}
+
 /**
  *  igb_write_mbx_pf - Places a message in the mailbox
  *  @hw: pointer to the HW structure
 static s32 igb_write_mbx_pf(struct e1000_hw *hw, u32 *msg, u16 size,
                               u16 vf_number)
 {
-       u32 p2v_mailbox;
-       s32 ret_val = 0;
+       s32 ret_val;
        u16 i;
 
-       /* Take ownership of the buffer */
-       wr32(E1000_P2VMAILBOX(vf_number), E1000_P2VMAILBOX_PFU);
-
-       /* Make sure we have ownership now... */
-       p2v_mailbox = rd32(E1000_P2VMAILBOX(vf_number));
-       if (!(p2v_mailbox & E1000_P2VMAILBOX_PFU)) {
-               /* failed to grab ownership */
-               ret_val = -E1000_ERR_MBX;
+       /* lock the mailbox to prevent pf/vf race condition */
+       ret_val = igb_obtain_mbx_lock_pf(hw, vf_number);
+       if (ret_val)
                goto out_no_write;
-       }
 
-       /*
-        * flush any ack or msg which may already be in the queue
-        * as they are likely the result of an error
-        */
-       igb_check_for_ack_pf(hw, vf_number);
+       /* flush msg and acks as we are overwriting the message buffer */
        igb_check_for_msg_pf(hw, vf_number);
+       igb_check_for_ack_pf(hw, vf_number);
 
        /* copy the caller specified message to the mailbox memory buffer */
        for (i = 0; i < size; i++)
 static s32 igb_read_mbx_pf(struct e1000_hw *hw, u32 *msg, u16 size,
                              u16 vf_number)
 {
-       u32 p2v_mailbox;
-       s32 ret_val = 0;
+       s32 ret_val;
        u16 i;
 
-       /* Take ownership of the buffer */
-       wr32(E1000_P2VMAILBOX(vf_number), E1000_P2VMAILBOX_PFU);
-
-       /* Make sure we have ownership now... */
-       p2v_mailbox = rd32(E1000_P2VMAILBOX(vf_number));
-       if (!(p2v_mailbox & E1000_P2VMAILBOX_PFU)) {
-               /* failed to grab ownership */
-               ret_val = -E1000_ERR_MBX;
+       /* lock the mailbox to prevent pf/vf race condition */
+       ret_val = igb_obtain_mbx_lock_pf(hw, vf_number);
+       if (ret_val)
                goto out_no_read;
-       }
 
        /* copy the message to the mailbox memory buffer */
        for (i = 0; i < size; i++)
        /* update stats */
        hw->mbx.stats.msgs_rx++;
 
-       ret_val = 0;
-
 out_no_read:
        return ret_val;
 }