diff --git a/modules/mqnic/mqnic.h b/modules/mqnic/mqnic.h
index 0164d4a0c..1dacfe568 100644
--- a/modules/mqnic/mqnic.h
+++ b/modules/mqnic/mqnic.h
@@ -539,6 +539,8 @@ u32 mqnic_port_get_tx_status(struct mqnic_port *port);
 u32 mqnic_port_get_rx_status(struct mqnic_port *port);
 
 // mqnic_netdev.c
+int mqnic_start_port(struct net_device *ndev);
+void mqnic_stop_port(struct net_device *ndev);
 void mqnic_update_stats(struct net_device *ndev);
 struct net_device *mqnic_create_netdev(struct mqnic_if *interface, int index, int dev_port);
 void mqnic_destroy_netdev(struct net_device *ndev);
diff --git a/modules/mqnic/mqnic_netdev.c b/modules/mqnic/mqnic_netdev.c
index 7ee0ee058..a83bf3577 100644
--- a/modules/mqnic/mqnic_netdev.c
+++ b/modules/mqnic/mqnic_netdev.c
@@ -37,9 +37,7 @@
 
 #include <linux/version.h>
 
-static int mqnic_stop_port(struct net_device *ndev);
-
-static int mqnic_start_port(struct net_device *ndev)
+int mqnic_start_port(struct net_device *ndev)
 {
 	struct mqnic_priv *priv = netdev_priv(ndev);
 	struct mqnic_dev *mdev = priv->mdev;
@@ -218,7 +216,7 @@ fail:
 	return ret;
 }
 
-static int mqnic_stop_port(struct net_device *ndev)
+void mqnic_stop_port(struct net_device *ndev)
 {
 	struct mqnic_priv *priv = netdev_priv(ndev);
 	struct mqnic_dev *mdev = priv->mdev;
@@ -301,8 +299,6 @@ static int mqnic_stop_port(struct net_device *ndev)
 		mqnic_destroy_cq(cq);
 	}
 	up_write(&priv->rxq_table_sem);
-
-	return 0;
 }
 
 static int mqnic_open(struct net_device *ndev)
@@ -331,11 +327,7 @@ static int mqnic_close(struct net_device *ndev)
 
 	mutex_lock(&mdev->state_lock);
 
-	ret = mqnic_stop_port(ndev);
-
-	if (ret)
-		dev_err(mdev->dev, "Failed to stop port on interface %d netdev %d: %d",
-				priv->interface->index, priv->index, ret);
+	mqnic_stop_port(ndev);
 
 	mutex_unlock(&mdev->state_lock);
 	return ret;