diff --git a/sys/dev/mlx5/mlx5_en/mlx5_en_main.c b/sys/dev/mlx5/mlx5_en/mlx5_en_main.c
index 47d96b44534..2136567d2e1 100644
--- a/sys/dev/mlx5/mlx5_en/mlx5_en_main.c
+++ b/sys/dev/mlx5/mlx5_en/mlx5_en_main.c
@@ -3108,6 +3108,13 @@ mlx5e_destroy_ifp(struct mlx5_core_dev *mdev, void *vpriv)
 	/* don't allow more IOCTLs */
 	priv->gone = 1;
 
+	/*
+	 * Clear the device description to avoid use after free,
+	 * because the bsddev is not destroyed when this module is
+	 * unloaded:
+	 */
+	device_set_desc(mdev->pdev->dev.bsddev, NULL);
+
 	/* XXX wait a bit to allow IOCTL handlers to complete */
 	pause("W", hz);