diff --git a/sys/dev/e1000/if_igb.c b/sys/dev/e1000/if_igb.c
index 65f4205af6c..6887bcf3553 100644
--- a/sys/dev/e1000/if_igb.c
+++ b/sys/dev/e1000/if_igb.c
@@ -972,7 +972,13 @@ igb_mq_start(struct ifnet *ifp, struct mbuf *m)
 	que = &adapter->queues[i];
 
 	err = drbr_enqueue(ifp, txr->br, m);
-	taskqueue_enqueue(que->tq, &txr->txq_task);
+	if (err)
+		return (err);
+	if (IGB_TX_TRYLOCK(txr)) {
+		err = igb_mq_start_locked(ifp, txr);
+		IGB_TX_UNLOCK(txr);
+	} else
+		taskqueue_enqueue(que->tq, &txr->txq_task);
 
 	return (err);
 }