diff --git a/drivers/net/e1000.c b/drivers/net/e1000.c
index 2050883ab93..4750c007e03 100644
--- a/drivers/net/e1000.c
+++ b/drivers/net/e1000.c
@@ -757,15 +757,11 @@ static void e1000_link_work(FAR void *arg)
       ninfo("Link up, status = 0x%x\n", tmp);
 
       netdev_lower_carrier_on(&priv->dev);
-
-      /* Clear Tx and RX rings */
-
-      e1000_txclean(priv);
-      e1000_rxclean(priv);
     }
   else
     {
       ninfo("Link down\n");
+
       netdev_lower_carrier_off(&priv->dev);
     }
 }
diff --git a/drivers/net/igc.c b/drivers/net/igc.c
index 755c8172709..4da6c11af68 100644
--- a/drivers/net/igc.c
+++ b/drivers/net/igc.c
@@ -711,16 +711,13 @@ static void igc_link_work(FAR void *arg)
   if (tmp & IGC_STATUS_LU)
     {
       ninfo("Link up, status = 0x%x\n", tmp);
+
       netdev_lower_carrier_on(&priv->dev);
-
-      /* Clear Tx and RX rings */
-
-      igc_txclean(priv);
-      igc_rxclean(priv);
     }
   else
     {
       ninfo("Link down\n");
+
       netdev_lower_carrier_off(&priv->dev);
     }
 }