diff --git a/drivers/net/qlcnic/qlcnic_main.c b/drivers/net/qlcnic/qlcnic_main.c
index 089212214ad46300d4aac77006ad9ba53b149174..26d9e10a36d5d5b038c7001735b2f7249317b8b4 100644
--- a/drivers/net/qlcnic/qlcnic_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/qlcnic/qlcnic_main.c
@@ -997,11 +997,7 @@ check_fw_status:
 set_dev_ready:
 	QLCWR32(adapter, QLCNIC_CRB_DEV_STATE, QLCNIC_DEV_READY);
 	qlcnic_idc_debug_info(adapter, 1);
-	err = qlcnic_check_npar_opertional(adapter);
-	if (err) {
-		qlcnic_release_firmware(adapter);
-		return err;
-	}
+
 	if (qlcnic_set_default_offload_settings(adapter))
 		goto err_out;
 	if (qlcnic_reset_npar_config(adapter))
@@ -2602,6 +2598,7 @@ skip_ack_check:
 
 		if (!adapter->nic_ops->start_firmware(adapter)) {
 			qlcnic_schedule_work(adapter, qlcnic_attach_work, 0);
+			adapter->fw_wait_cnt = 0;
 			return;
 		}
 		goto err_ret;
@@ -2617,6 +2614,7 @@ wait_npar:
 	case QLCNIC_DEV_READY:
 		if (!adapter->nic_ops->start_firmware(adapter)) {
 			qlcnic_schedule_work(adapter, qlcnic_attach_work, 0);
+			adapter->fw_wait_cnt = 0;
 			return;
 		}
 	case QLCNIC_DEV_FAILED:
@@ -2750,7 +2748,21 @@ qlcnic_attach_work(struct work_struct *work)
 	struct qlcnic_adapter *adapter = container_of(work,
 				struct qlcnic_adapter, fw_work.work);
 	struct net_device *netdev = adapter->netdev;
+	u32 npar_state;
 
+	if (adapter->op_mode != QLCNIC_MGMT_FUNC) {
+		npar_state = QLCRD32(adapter, QLCNIC_CRB_DEV_NPAR_STATE);
+		if (adapter->fw_wait_cnt++ > QLCNIC_DEV_NPAR_OPER_TIMEO)
+			qlcnic_clr_all_drv_state(adapter, 0);
+		else if (npar_state != QLCNIC_DEV_NPAR_OPER)
+			qlcnic_schedule_work(adapter, qlcnic_attach_work,
+							FW_POLL_DELAY);
+		else
+			goto attach;
+		QLCDB(adapter, DRV, "Waiting for NPAR state to operational\n");
+		return;
+	}
+attach:
 	if (netif_running(netdev)) {
 		if (qlcnic_up(adapter, netdev))
 			goto done;