diff --git a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_flow.c b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_flow.c
index 34ac5d3803..23c1b5ef3c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_flow.c
+++ b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_flow.c
@@ -948,6 +948,8 @@ priv_flow_create_action_queue(struct priv *priv,
 				   NULL, "cannot allocate QP");
 		goto error;
 	}
+	if (!priv->started)
+		return rte_flow;
 	rte_flow->ibv_flow = ibv_exp_create_flow(rte_flow->qp,
 						 rte_flow->ibv_attr);
 	if (!rte_flow->ibv_flow) {