diff --git a/drivers/infiniband/hw/hfi1/chip.c b/drivers/infiniband/hw/hfi1/chip.c
index 1660a641f4f7..98bcd06c82d7 100644
--- a/drivers/infiniband/hw/hfi1/chip.c
+++ b/drivers/infiniband/hw/hfi1/chip.c
@@ -6518,12 +6518,11 @@ static void _dc_start(struct hfi1_devdata *dd)
 	if (!dd->dc_shutdown)
 		return;
 
-	/* Take the 8051 out of reset */
-	write_csr(dd, DC_DC8051_CFG_RST, 0ull);
-	/* Wait until 8051 is ready */
-	if (wait_fm_ready(dd, TIMEOUT_8051_START))
-		dd_dev_err(dd, "%s: timeout starting 8051 firmware\n",
-			   __func__);
+	/*
+	 * Take the 8051 out of reset, wait until 8051 is ready, and set host
+	 * version bit.
+	 */
+	release_and_wait_ready_8051_firmware(dd);
 
 	/* Take away reset for LCB and RX FPE (set in lcb_shutdown). */
 	write_csr(dd, DCC_CFG_RESET, 0x10);
@@ -8591,30 +8590,23 @@ int write_lcb_csr(struct hfi1_devdata *dd, u32 addr, u64 data)
 }
 
 /*
+ * If the 8051 is in reset mode (dd->dc_shutdown == 1), this function
+ * will still continue executing.
+ *
  * Returns:
  *	< 0 = Linux error, not able to get access
  *	> 0 = 8051 command RETURN_CODE
  */
-static int do_8051_command(
-	struct hfi1_devdata *dd,
-	u32 type,
-	u64 in_data,
-	u64 *out_data)
+static int _do_8051_command(struct hfi1_devdata *dd, u32 type, u64 in_data,
+			    u64 *out_data)
 {
 	u64 reg, completed;
 	int return_code;
 	unsigned long timeout;
 
+	lockdep_assert_held(&dd->dc8051_lock);
 	hfi1_cdbg(DC8051, "type %d, data 0x%012llx", type, in_data);
 
-	mutex_lock(&dd->dc8051_lock);
-
-	/* We can't send any commands to the 8051 if it's in reset */
-	if (dd->dc_shutdown) {
-		return_code = -ENODEV;
-		goto fail;
-	}
-
 	/*
 	 * If an 8051 host command timed out previously, then the 8051 is
 	 * stuck.
@@ -8714,6 +8706,29 @@ static int do_8051_command(
 	 */
 	write_csr(dd, DC_DC8051_CFG_HOST_CMD_0, 0);
 
+fail:
+	return return_code;
+}
+
+/*
+ * Returns:
+ *	< 0 = Linux error, not able to get access
+ *	> 0 = 8051 command RETURN_CODE
+ */
+static int do_8051_command(struct hfi1_devdata *dd, u32 type, u64 in_data,
+			   u64 *out_data)
+{
+	int return_code;
+
+	mutex_lock(&dd->dc8051_lock);
+	/* We can't send any commands to the 8051 if it's in reset */
+	if (dd->dc_shutdown) {
+		return_code = -ENODEV;
+		goto fail;
+	}
+
+	return_code = _do_8051_command(dd, type, in_data, out_data);
+
 fail:
 	mutex_unlock(&dd->dc8051_lock);
 	return return_code;
@@ -8724,16 +8739,17 @@ static int set_physical_link_state(struct hfi1_devdata *dd, u64 state)
 	return do_8051_command(dd, HCMD_CHANGE_PHY_STATE, state, NULL);
 }
 
-int load_8051_config(struct hfi1_devdata *dd, u8 field_id,
-		     u8 lane_id, u32 config_data)
+int _load_8051_config(struct hfi1_devdata *dd, u8 field_id,
+		      u8 lane_id, u32 config_data)
 {
 	u64 data;
 	int ret;
 
+	lockdep_assert_held(&dd->dc8051_lock);
 	data = (u64)field_id << LOAD_DATA_FIELD_ID_SHIFT
 		| (u64)lane_id << LOAD_DATA_LANE_ID_SHIFT
 		| (u64)config_data << LOAD_DATA_DATA_SHIFT;
-	ret = do_8051_command(dd, HCMD_LOAD_CONFIG_DATA, data, NULL);
+	ret = _do_8051_command(dd, HCMD_LOAD_CONFIG_DATA, data, NULL);
 	if (ret != HCMD_SUCCESS) {
 		dd_dev_err(dd,
 			   "load 8051 config: field id %d, lane %d, err %d\n",
@@ -8742,6 +8758,18 @@ int load_8051_config(struct hfi1_devdata *dd, u8 field_id,
 	return ret;
 }
 
+int load_8051_config(struct hfi1_devdata *dd, u8 field_id,
+		     u8 lane_id, u32 config_data)
+{
+	int return_code;
+
+	mutex_lock(&dd->dc8051_lock);
+	return_code = _load_8051_config(dd, field_id, lane_id, config_data);
+	mutex_unlock(&dd->dc8051_lock);
+
+	return return_code;
+}
+
 /*
  * Read the 8051 firmware "registers".  Use the RAM directly.  Always
  * set the result, even on error.
@@ -8857,13 +8885,14 @@ int write_host_interface_version(struct hfi1_devdata *dd, u8 version)
 	u32 frame;
 	u32 mask;
 
+	lockdep_assert_held(&dd->dc8051_lock);
 	mask = (HOST_INTERFACE_VERSION_MASK << HOST_INTERFACE_VERSION_SHIFT);
 	read_8051_config(dd, RESERVED_REGISTERS, GENERAL_CONFIG, &frame);
 	/* Clear, then set field */
 	frame &= ~mask;
 	frame |= ((u32)version << HOST_INTERFACE_VERSION_SHIFT);
-	return load_8051_config(dd, RESERVED_REGISTERS, GENERAL_CONFIG,
-				frame);
+	return _load_8051_config(dd, RESERVED_REGISTERS, GENERAL_CONFIG,
+				 frame);
 }
 
 void read_misc_status(struct hfi1_devdata *dd, u8 *ver_major, u8 *ver_minor,
diff --git a/drivers/infiniband/hw/hfi1/chip.h b/drivers/infiniband/hw/hfi1/chip.h
index b8345a60a0fb..579a6c70b93e 100644
--- a/drivers/infiniband/hw/hfi1/chip.h
+++ b/drivers/infiniband/hw/hfi1/chip.h
@@ -709,6 +709,7 @@ void read_misc_status(struct hfi1_devdata *dd, u8 *ver_major, u8 *ver_minor,
 		      u8 *ver_patch);
 int write_host_interface_version(struct hfi1_devdata *dd, u8 version);
 void read_guid(struct hfi1_devdata *dd);
+int release_and_wait_ready_8051_firmware(struct hfi1_devdata *dd);
 int wait_fm_ready(struct hfi1_devdata *dd, u32 mstimeout);
 void set_link_down_reason(struct hfi1_pportdata *ppd, u8 lcl_reason,
 			  u8 neigh_reason, u8 rem_reason);
diff --git a/drivers/infiniband/hw/hfi1/firmware.c b/drivers/infiniband/hw/hfi1/firmware.c
index 9471c4063ebe..dee3c674f33d 100644
--- a/drivers/infiniband/hw/hfi1/firmware.c
+++ b/drivers/infiniband/hw/hfi1/firmware.c
@@ -970,6 +970,46 @@ int wait_fm_ready(struct hfi1_devdata *dd, u32 mstimeout)
 	}
 }
 
+/*
+ * Clear all reset bits, releasing the 8051.
+ * Wait for firmware to be ready to accept host requests.
+ * Then, set host version bit.
+ *
+ * This function executes even if the 8051 is in reset mode when
+ * dd->dc_shutdown == 1.
+ *
+ * Expects dd->dc8051_lock to be held.
+ */
+int release_and_wait_ready_8051_firmware(struct hfi1_devdata *dd)
+{
+	int ret;
+
+	lockdep_assert_held(&dd->dc8051_lock);
+	/* clear all reset bits, releasing the 8051 */
+	write_csr(dd, DC_DC8051_CFG_RST, 0ull);
+
+	/*
+	 * Wait for firmware to be ready to accept host
+	 * requests.
+	 */
+	ret = wait_fm_ready(dd, TIMEOUT_8051_START);
+	if (ret) {
+		dd_dev_err(dd, "8051 start timeout, current FW state 0x%x\n",
+			   get_firmware_state(dd));
+		return ret;
+	}
+
+	ret = write_host_interface_version(dd, HOST_INTERFACE_VERSION);
+	if (ret != HCMD_SUCCESS) {
+		dd_dev_err(dd,
+			   "Failed to set host interface version, return 0x%x\n",
+			   ret);
+		return -EIO;
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
 /*
  * Load the 8051 firmware.
  */
@@ -1035,31 +1075,22 @@ static int load_8051_firmware(struct hfi1_devdata *dd,
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
 
-	/* clear all reset bits, releasing the 8051 */
-	write_csr(dd, DC_DC8051_CFG_RST, 0ull);
-
 	/*
+	 * Clear all reset bits, releasing the 8051.
 	 * DC reset step 5. Wait for firmware to be ready to accept host
 	 * requests.
+	 * Then, set host version bit.
 	 */
-	ret = wait_fm_ready(dd, TIMEOUT_8051_START);
-	if (ret) { /* timed out */
-		dd_dev_err(dd, "8051 start timeout, current state 0x%x\n",
-			   get_firmware_state(dd));
-		return -ETIMEDOUT;
-	}
+	mutex_lock(&dd->dc8051_lock);
+	ret = release_and_wait_ready_8051_firmware(dd);
+	mutex_unlock(&dd->dc8051_lock);
+	if (ret)
+		return ret;
 
 	read_misc_status(dd, &ver_major, &ver_minor, &ver_patch);
 	dd_dev_info(dd, "8051 firmware version %d.%d.%d\n",
 		    (int)ver_major, (int)ver_minor, (int)ver_patch);
 	dd->dc8051_ver = dc8051_ver(ver_major, ver_minor, ver_patch);
-	ret = write_host_interface_version(dd, HOST_INTERFACE_VERSION);
-	if (ret != HCMD_SUCCESS) {
-		dd_dev_err(dd,
-			   "Failed to set host interface version, return 0x%x\n",
-			   ret);
-		return -EIO;
-	}
 
 	return 0;
 }