diff --git a/providers/mlx5/dr_vports.c b/providers/mlx5/dr_vports.c
index 963b327d1..a9d95623d 100644
--- a/providers/mlx5/dr_vports.c
+++ b/providers/mlx5/dr_vports.c
@@ -241,7 +241,8 @@ void dr_vports_table_del_wire(struct dr_devx_vports *vports)
 		goto out_unlock;
 	}
 
-	vport = h->buckets[idx];
+	prev = h->buckets[idx];
+	vport = prev->next;
 	while (vport) {
 		if (vport == wire) {
 			prev->next = vport->next;