diff --git a/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_rxtx.c b/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_rxtx.c
index ea0bd9d..fbc96df 100644
--- a/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_rxtx.c
+++ b/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_rxtx.c
@@ -725,7 +725,7 @@ virtio_recv_pkts(void *rx_queue, struct rte_mbuf **rx_pkts, uint16_t nb_pkts)
 {
 	struct virtnet_rx *rxvq = rx_queue;
 	struct virtqueue *vq = rxvq->vq;
-	struct virtio_hw *hw;
+	struct virtio_hw *hw = vq->hw;
 	struct rte_mbuf *rxm, *new_mbuf;
 	uint16_t nb_used, num, nb_rx;
 	uint32_t len[VIRTIO_MBUF_BURST_SZ];
@@ -736,6 +736,10 @@ virtio_recv_pkts(void *rx_queue, struct rte_mbuf **rx_pkts, uint16_t nb_pkts)
 	int offload;
 	struct virtio_net_hdr *hdr;
 
+	nb_rx = 0;
+	if (unlikely(hw->started == 0))
+		return nb_rx;
+
 	nb_used = VIRTQUEUE_NUSED(vq);
 
 	virtio_rmb();
@@ -748,8 +752,6 @@ virtio_recv_pkts(void *rx_queue, struct rte_mbuf **rx_pkts, uint16_t nb_pkts)
 	num = virtqueue_dequeue_burst_rx(vq, rcv_pkts, len, num);
 	PMD_RX_LOG(DEBUG, "used:%d dequeue:%d", nb_used, num);
 
-	hw = vq->hw;
-	nb_rx = 0;
 	nb_enqueued = 0;
 	hdr_size = hw->vtnet_hdr_size;
 	offload = rx_offload_enabled(hw);
@@ -834,7 +836,7 @@ virtio_recv_mergeable_pkts(void *rx_queue,
 {
 	struct virtnet_rx *rxvq = rx_queue;
 	struct virtqueue *vq = rxvq->vq;
-	struct virtio_hw *hw;
+	struct virtio_hw *hw = vq->hw;
 	struct rte_mbuf *rxm, *new_mbuf;
 	uint16_t nb_used, num, nb_rx;
 	uint32_t len[VIRTIO_MBUF_BURST_SZ];
@@ -848,14 +850,16 @@ virtio_recv_mergeable_pkts(void *rx_queue,
 	uint32_t hdr_size;
 	int offload;
 
+	nb_rx = 0;
+	if (unlikely(hw->started == 0))
+		return nb_rx;
+
 	nb_used = VIRTQUEUE_NUSED(vq);
 
 	virtio_rmb();
 
 	PMD_RX_LOG(DEBUG, "used:%d", nb_used);
 
-	hw = vq->hw;
-	nb_rx = 0;
 	i = 0;
 	nb_enqueued = 0;
 	seg_num = 0;
@@ -1005,9 +1009,12 @@ virtio_xmit_pkts(void *tx_queue, struct rte_mbuf **tx_pkts, uint16_t nb_pkts)
 	struct virtqueue *vq = txvq->vq;
 	struct virtio_hw *hw = vq->hw;
 	uint16_t hdr_size = hw->vtnet_hdr_size;
-	uint16_t nb_used, nb_tx;
+	uint16_t nb_used, nb_tx = 0;
 	int error;
 
+	if (unlikely(hw->started == 0))
+		return nb_tx;
+
 	if (unlikely(nb_pkts < 1))
 		return nb_pkts;
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_rxtx_simple.c b/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_rxtx_simple.c
index b651e53..542cf80 100644
--- a/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_rxtx_simple.c
+++ b/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_rxtx_simple.c
@@ -89,12 +89,17 @@ virtio_xmit_pkts_simple(void *tx_queue, struct rte_mbuf **tx_pkts,
 {
 	struct virtnet_tx *txvq = tx_queue;
 	struct virtqueue *vq = txvq->vq;
+	struct virtio_hw *hw = vq->hw;
 	uint16_t nb_used;
 	uint16_t desc_idx;
 	struct vring_desc *start_dp;
 	uint16_t nb_tail, nb_commit;
 	int i;
 	uint16_t desc_idx_max = (vq->vq_nentries >> 1) - 1;
+	uint16_t nb_tx = 0;
+
+	if (unlikely(hw->started == 0))
+		return nb_tx;
 
 	nb_used = VIRTQUEUE_NUSED(vq);
 	rte_compiler_barrier();
diff --git a/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_rxtx_simple_neon.c b/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_rxtx_simple_neon.c
index 793eefb..ecc62ad 100644
--- a/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_rxtx_simple_neon.c
+++ b/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_rxtx_simple_neon.c
@@ -72,12 +72,13 @@ virtio_recv_pkts_vec(void *rx_queue, struct rte_mbuf **rx_pkts,
 {
 	struct virtnet_rx *rxvq = rx_queue;
 	struct virtqueue *vq = rxvq->vq;
+	struct virtio_hw *hw = vq->hw;
 	uint16_t nb_used;
 	uint16_t desc_idx;
 	struct vring_used_elem *rused;
 	struct rte_mbuf **sw_ring;
 	struct rte_mbuf **sw_ring_end;
-	uint16_t nb_pkts_received;
+	uint16_t nb_pkts_received = 0;
 
 	uint8x16_t shuf_msk1 = {
 		0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, /* packet type */
@@ -106,6 +107,9 @@ virtio_recv_pkts_vec(void *rx_queue, struct rte_mbuf **rx_pkts,
 		0, 0
 	};
 
+	if (unlikely(hw->started == 0))
+		return nb_pkts_received;
+
 	if (unlikely(nb_pkts < RTE_VIRTIO_DESC_PER_LOOP))
 		return 0;
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_rxtx_simple_sse.c b/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_rxtx_simple_sse.c
index 87bb5c6..7cf0f8b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_rxtx_simple_sse.c
+++ b/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_rxtx_simple_sse.c
@@ -74,12 +74,13 @@ virtio_recv_pkts_vec(void *rx_queue, struct rte_mbuf **rx_pkts,
 {
 	struct virtnet_rx *rxvq = rx_queue;
 	struct virtqueue *vq = rxvq->vq;
+	struct virtio_hw *hw = vq->hw;
 	uint16_t nb_used;
 	uint16_t desc_idx;
 	struct vring_used_elem *rused;
 	struct rte_mbuf **sw_ring;
 	struct rte_mbuf **sw_ring_end;
-	uint16_t nb_pkts_received;
+	uint16_t nb_pkts_received = 0;
 	__m128i shuf_msk1, shuf_msk2, len_adjust;
 
 	shuf_msk1 = _mm_set_epi8(
@@ -109,6 +110,9 @@ virtio_recv_pkts_vec(void *rx_queue, struct rte_mbuf **rx_pkts,
 		0, (uint16_t)-vq->hw->vtnet_hdr_size,
 		0, 0);
 
+	if (unlikely(hw->started == 0))
+		return nb_pkts_received;
+
 	if (unlikely(nb_pkts < RTE_VIRTIO_DESC_PER_LOOP))
 		return 0;
 
