diff --git a/sys/dev/ixgbe/if_ix.c b/sys/dev/ixgbe/if_ix.c
index 519c82304f54..96188ca7ef7f 100644
--- a/sys/dev/ixgbe/if_ix.c
+++ b/sys/dev/ixgbe/if_ix.c
@@ -1836,6 +1836,8 @@ ixgbe_config_link(if_ctx_t ctx)
 	sfp = ixgbe_is_sfp(hw);
 
 	if (sfp) {
+		/* ixgbe_if_stop() disables it on every 82599 SFP port. */
+		ixgbe_enable_tx_laser(hw);
 		sc->task_requests |= IXGBE_REQUEST_TASK_MOD;
 		iflib_admin_intr_deferred(ctx);
 	} else {