diff --git a/examples/flow_filtering/main.c b/examples/flow_filtering/main.c
index f595034394..ce91e8a6fc 100644
--- a/examples/flow_filtering/main.c
+++ b/examples/flow_filtering/main.c
@@ -132,6 +132,22 @@ init_port(void)
 				DEV_TX_OFFLOAD_SCTP_CKSUM  |
 				DEV_TX_OFFLOAD_TCP_TSO,
 		},
+		/*
+		 * Initialize fdir_conf of rte_eth_conf.
+		 * Fdir is used in flow filtering for I40e,
+		 * so rte_flow rules involve some fdir
+		 * configurations. In long term it's better
+		 * that drivers don't require any fdir
+		 * configuration for rte_flow, but we need to
+		 * get this workaround so that sample app can
+		 * run on I40e.
+		 */
+		.fdir_conf = {
+			.mode = RTE_FDIR_MODE_PERFECT,
+			.pballoc = RTE_FDIR_PBALLOC_64K,
+			.status = RTE_FDIR_REPORT_STATUS,
+			.drop_queue = 127,
+		},
 	};
 	struct rte_eth_txconf txq_conf;
 	struct rte_eth_rxconf rxq_conf;