diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x.h
index 352beff796ae..828e2e56b75e 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x.h
@@ -1529,6 +1529,7 @@ struct bnx2x {
 	struct link_vars	link_vars;
 	u32			link_cnt;
 	struct bnx2x_link_report_data last_reported_link;
+	bool			force_link_down;
 
 	struct mdio_if_info	mdio;
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_cmn.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_cmn.c
index 6465414dad74..8498a357d389 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_cmn.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_cmn.c
@@ -1260,6 +1260,11 @@ void __bnx2x_link_report(struct bnx2x *bp)
 {
 	struct bnx2x_link_report_data cur_data;
 
+	if (bp->force_link_down) {
+		bp->link_vars.link_up = 0;
+		return;
+	}
+
 	/* reread mf_cfg */
 	if (IS_PF(bp) && !CHIP_IS_E1(bp))
 		bnx2x_read_mf_cfg(bp);
@@ -2817,6 +2822,7 @@ int bnx2x_nic_load(struct bnx2x *bp, int load_mode)
 		bp->pending_max = 0;
 	}
 
+	bp->force_link_down = false;
 	if (bp->port.pmf) {
 		rc = bnx2x_initial_phy_init(bp, load_mode);
 		if (rc)
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_main.c
index e855a271db48..bd3e3f080ebf 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_main.c
@@ -10279,6 +10279,12 @@ static void bnx2x_sp_rtnl_task(struct work_struct *work)
 		bp->sp_rtnl_state = 0;
 		smp_mb();
 
+		/* Immediately indicate link as down */
+		bp->link_vars.link_up = 0;
+		bp->force_link_down = true;
+		netif_carrier_off(bp->dev);
+		BNX2X_ERR("Indicating link is down due to Tx-timeout\n");
+
 		bnx2x_nic_unload(bp, UNLOAD_NORMAL, true);
 		bnx2x_nic_load(bp, LOAD_NORMAL);