diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/igbvf/mbx.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/igbvf/mbx.c
index 163e5838f7c2..a3cd7ac48d4b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/igbvf/mbx.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/igbvf/mbx.c
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ static s32 e1000_write_mbx_vf(struct e1000_hw *hw, u32 *msg, u16 size)
 	s32 err;
 	u16 i;
 
-	WARN_ON_ONCE(!spin_is_locked(&hw->mbx_lock));
+	lockdep_assert_held(&hw->mbx_lock);
 
 	/* lock the mailbox to prevent pf/vf race condition */
 	err = e1000_obtain_mbx_lock_vf(hw);
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ static s32 e1000_read_mbx_vf(struct e1000_hw *hw, u32 *msg, u16 size)
 	s32 err;
 	u16 i;
 
-	WARN_ON_ONCE(!spin_is_locked(&hw->mbx_lock));
+	lockdep_assert_held(&hw->mbx_lock);
 
 	/* lock the mailbox to prevent pf/vf race condition */
 	err = e1000_obtain_mbx_lock_vf(hw);