}
 
 /**
- * ixgbe_ptp_stop - disable ptp device and stop the overflow check
- * @adapter: pointer to adapter struct
+ * ixgbe_ptp_suspend - stop PTP work items
+ * @ adapter: pointer to adapter struct
  *
- * this function stops the ptp support, and cancels the delayed work.
+ * this function suspends PTP activity, and prevents more PTP work from being
+ * generated, but does not destroy the PTP clock device.
  */
-void ixgbe_ptp_stop(struct ixgbe_adapter *adapter)
+void ixgbe_ptp_suspend(struct ixgbe_adapter *adapter)
 {
        /* Leave the IXGBE_PTP_RUNNING state. */
        if (!test_and_clear_bit(__IXGBE_PTP_RUNNING, &adapter->state))
                return;
 
-       /* stop the PPS signal */
-       adapter->flags2 &= ~IXGBE_FLAG2_PTP_PPS_ENABLED;
-       ixgbe_ptp_setup_sdp(adapter);
+       /* since this might be called in suspend, we don't clear the state,
+        * but simply reset the auxiliary PPS signal control register
+        */
+       IXGBE_WRITE_REG(&adapter->hw, IXGBE_TSAUXC, 0x0);
 
+       /* ensure that we cancel any pending PTP Tx work item in progress */
        cancel_work_sync(&adapter->ptp_tx_work);
        if (adapter->ptp_tx_skb) {
                dev_kfree_skb_any(adapter->ptp_tx_skb);
                adapter->ptp_tx_skb = NULL;
                clear_bit_unlock(__IXGBE_PTP_TX_IN_PROGRESS, &adapter->state);
        }
+}
+
+/**
+ * ixgbe_ptp_stop - close the PTP device
+ * @adapter: pointer to adapter struct
+ *
+ * completely destroy the PTP device, should only be called when the device is
+ * being fully closed.
+ */
+void ixgbe_ptp_stop(struct ixgbe_adapter *adapter)
+{
+       /* first, suspend PTP activity */
+       ixgbe_ptp_suspend(adapter);
 
+       /* disable the PTP clock device */
        if (adapter->ptp_clock) {
                ptp_clock_unregister(adapter->ptp_clock);
                adapter->ptp_clock = NULL;