diff --git a/sys/dev/mlx5/mlx5_core/mlx5_eq.c b/sys/dev/mlx5/mlx5_core/mlx5_eq.c
index 7c4d2323d37a..144496c9d3a2 100644
--- a/sys/dev/mlx5/mlx5_core/mlx5_eq.c
+++ b/sys/dev/mlx5/mlx5_core/mlx5_eq.c
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ static int mlx5_eq_int(struct mlx5_core_dev *dev, struct mlx5_eq *eq)
 		 * Make sure we read EQ entry contents after we've
 		 * checked the ownership bit.
 		 */
-		rmb();
+		atomic_thread_fence_acq();
 
 		mlx5_core_dbg(eq->dev, "eqn %d, eqe type %s\n",
 			      eq->eqn, eqe_type_str(eqe->type));