Index: sys/net/iflib.c
===================================================================
--- sys/net/iflib.c
+++ sys/net/iflib.c
@@ -3095,10 +3095,16 @@
 		retval |= IFLIB_RXEOF_MORE;
 	return (retval);
 err:
-	STATE_LOCK(ctx);
-	ctx->ifc_flags |= IFC_DO_RESET;
-	iflib_admin_intr_deferred(ctx);
-	STATE_UNLOCK(ctx);
+	/*
+	 * Allow drivers to use EBADMSG for transient errors, otherwise consider
+	 * other errors as contractual failures and reset the interface.
+	 */
+	if (err != EBADMSG) {
+		STATE_LOCK(ctx);
+		ctx->ifc_flags |= IFC_DO_RESET;
+		iflib_admin_intr_deferred(ctx);
+		STATE_UNLOCK(ctx);
+	}
 	return (0);
 }