diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/e1000e/mac.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/e1000e/mac.c
index b25cc4300de7..2480c1091873 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/e1000e/mac.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/e1000e/mac.c
@@ -1600,15 +1600,28 @@ s32 e1000e_blink_led_generic(struct e1000_hw *hw)
 		ledctl_blink = E1000_LEDCTL_LED0_BLINK |
 		    (E1000_LEDCTL_MODE_LED_ON << E1000_LEDCTL_LED0_MODE_SHIFT);
 	} else {
-		/* set the blink bit for each LED that's "on" (0x0E)
-		 * in ledctl_mode2
+		/* Set the blink bit for each LED that's "on" (0x0E)
+		 * (or "off" if inverted) in ledctl_mode2.  The blink
+		 * logic in hardware only works when mode is set to "on"
+		 * so it must be changed accordingly when the mode is
+		 * "off" and inverted.
 		 */
 		ledctl_blink = hw->mac.ledctl_mode2;
-		for (i = 0; i < 4; i++)
-			if (((hw->mac.ledctl_mode2 >> (i * 8)) & 0xFF) ==
-			    E1000_LEDCTL_MODE_LED_ON)
-				ledctl_blink |= (E1000_LEDCTL_LED0_BLINK <<
-						 (i * 8));
+		for (i = 0; i < 32; i += 8) {
+			u32 mode = (hw->mac.ledctl_mode2 >> i) &
+			    E1000_LEDCTL_LED0_MODE_MASK;
+			u32 led_default = hw->mac.ledctl_default >> i;
+
+			if ((!(led_default & E1000_LEDCTL_LED0_IVRT) &&
+			     (mode == E1000_LEDCTL_MODE_LED_ON)) ||
+			    ((led_default & E1000_LEDCTL_LED0_IVRT) &&
+			     (mode == E1000_LEDCTL_MODE_LED_OFF))) {
+				ledctl_blink &=
+				    ~(E1000_LEDCTL_LED0_MODE_MASK << i);
+				ledctl_blink |= (E1000_LEDCTL_LED0_BLINK |
+						 E1000_LEDCTL_MODE_LED_ON) << i;
+			}
+		}
 	}
 
 	ew32(LEDCTL, ledctl_blink);