diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_type.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_type.h
index 01d0aa70b2b7..a461b6542f96 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_type.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_type.h
@@ -2798,6 +2798,7 @@ struct ixgbe_hic_hdr2_rsp {
 };
 
 union ixgbe_hic_hdr2 {
+	u32 buf[1];
 	struct ixgbe_hic_hdr2_req req;
 	struct ixgbe_hic_hdr2_rsp rsp;
 };
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_x550.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_x550.c
index 76d2fa3ef518..4a0ccbf448a2 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_x550.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_x550.c
@@ -1228,7 +1228,7 @@ static int ixgbe_update_flash_X550(struct ixgbe_hw *hw)
 	buffer.req.buf_lenl = FW_SHADOW_RAM_DUMP_LEN;
 	buffer.req.checksum = FW_DEFAULT_CHECKSUM;
 
-	status = ixgbe_host_interface_command(hw, &buffer, sizeof(buffer),
+	status = ixgbe_host_interface_command(hw, buffer.buf, sizeof(buffer),
 					      IXGBE_HI_COMMAND_TIMEOUT, false);
 	return status;
 }