Index: sys/dev/ixl/if_ixl.c
===================================================================
--- sys/dev/ixl/if_ixl.c
+++ sys/dev/ixl/if_ixl.c
@@ -863,6 +863,10 @@
 	ixl_pf_qmgr_destroy(&pf->qmgr);
 	ixl_free_pci_resources(pf);
 	ixl_free_mac_filters(vsi);
+	if ((!IXL_PF_IN_RECOVERY_MODE(pf)) &&
+	(!TAILQ_EMPTY(&vsi->sysctl_ctx))) {
+		sysctl_ctx_free(&vsi->sysctl_ctx);
+	}
 	INIT_DBG_DEV(dev, "end");
 	return (0);
 }
@@ -1274,9 +1278,6 @@
 		free(vsi->rx_queues, M_IXL);
 		vsi->rx_queues = NULL;
 	}
-
-	if (!IXL_PF_IN_RECOVERY_MODE(pf))
-		sysctl_ctx_free(&vsi->sysctl_ctx);
 }
 
 void