diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_cmn.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_cmn.c
index 57619dd4a92b..51a6030138e3 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_cmn.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_cmn.c
@@ -1037,6 +1037,7 @@ static irqreturn_t bnx2x_msix_fp_int(int irq, void *fp_cookie)
 	DP(NETIF_MSG_INTR,
 	   "got an MSI-X interrupt on IDX:SB [fp %d fw_sd %d igusb %d]\n",
 	   fp->index, fp->fw_sb_id, fp->igu_sb_id);
+
 	bnx2x_ack_sb(bp, fp->igu_sb_id, USTORM_ID, 0, IGU_INT_DISABLE, 0);
 
 #ifdef BNX2X_STOP_ON_ERROR
@@ -1718,7 +1719,7 @@ static int bnx2x_req_irq(struct bnx2x *bp)
 	return request_irq(irq, bnx2x_interrupt, flags, bp->dev->name, bp->dev);
 }
 
-static int bnx2x_setup_irqs(struct bnx2x *bp)
+int bnx2x_setup_irqs(struct bnx2x *bp)
 {
 	int rc = 0;
 	if (bp->flags & USING_MSIX_FLAG &&
@@ -2574,6 +2575,8 @@ int bnx2x_nic_load(struct bnx2x *bp, int load_mode)
 		}
 	}
 
+	bnx2x_pre_irq_nic_init(bp);
+
 	/* Connect to IRQs */
 	rc = bnx2x_setup_irqs(bp);
 	if (rc) {
@@ -2583,11 +2586,11 @@ int bnx2x_nic_load(struct bnx2x *bp, int load_mode)
 		LOAD_ERROR_EXIT(bp, load_error2);
 	}
 
-	/* Setup NIC internals and enable interrupts */
-	bnx2x_nic_init(bp, load_code);
-
 	/* Init per-function objects */
 	if (IS_PF(bp)) {
+		/* Setup NIC internals and enable interrupts */
+		bnx2x_post_irq_nic_init(bp, load_code);
+
 		bnx2x_init_bp_objs(bp);
 		bnx2x_iov_nic_init(bp);
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_cmn.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_cmn.h
index aee7671ff4c1..c3a65d04c8c9 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_cmn.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_cmn.h
@@ -295,16 +295,29 @@ void bnx2x_int_disable_sync(struct bnx2x *bp, int disable_hw);
 void bnx2x_nic_init_cnic(struct bnx2x *bp);
 
 /**
- * bnx2x_nic_init - init driver internals.
+ * bnx2x_preirq_nic_init - init driver internals.
  *
  * @bp:		driver handle
  *
  * Initializes:
- *  - rings
+ *  - fastpath object
+ *  - fastpath rings
+ *  etc.
+ */
+void bnx2x_pre_irq_nic_init(struct bnx2x *bp);
+
+/**
+ * bnx2x_postirq_nic_init - init driver internals.
+ *
+ * @bp:		driver handle
+ * @load_code:	COMMON, PORT or FUNCTION
+ *
+ * Initializes:
  *  - status blocks
+ *  - slowpath rings
  *  - etc.
  */
-void bnx2x_nic_init(struct bnx2x *bp, u32 load_code);
+void bnx2x_post_irq_nic_init(struct bnx2x *bp, u32 load_code);
 /**
  * bnx2x_alloc_mem_cnic - allocate driver's memory for cnic.
  *
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_main.c
index c50696b396f1..a8f1ee31de77 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_main.c
@@ -6018,10 +6018,11 @@ void bnx2x_nic_init_cnic(struct bnx2x *bp)
 	mmiowb();
 }
 
-void bnx2x_nic_init(struct bnx2x *bp, u32 load_code)
+void bnx2x_pre_irq_nic_init(struct bnx2x *bp)
 {
 	int i;
 
+	/* Setup NIC internals and enable interrupts */
 	for_each_eth_queue(bp, i)
 		bnx2x_init_eth_fp(bp, i);
 
@@ -6030,17 +6031,21 @@ void bnx2x_nic_init(struct bnx2x *bp, u32 load_code)
 	bnx2x_init_rx_rings(bp);
 	bnx2x_init_tx_rings(bp);
 
-	if (IS_VF(bp))
-		return;
+	if (IS_PF(bp)) {
+		/* Initialize MOD_ABS interrupts */
+		bnx2x_init_mod_abs_int(bp, &bp->link_vars, bp->common.chip_id,
+				       bp->common.shmem_base,
+				       bp->common.shmem2_base, BP_PORT(bp));
 
-	/* Initialize MOD_ABS interrupts */
-	bnx2x_init_mod_abs_int(bp, &bp->link_vars, bp->common.chip_id,
-			       bp->common.shmem_base, bp->common.shmem2_base,
-			       BP_PORT(bp));
+		/* initialize the default status block and sp ring */
+		bnx2x_init_def_sb(bp);
+		bnx2x_update_dsb_idx(bp);
+		bnx2x_init_sp_ring(bp);
+	}
+}
 
-	bnx2x_init_def_sb(bp);
-	bnx2x_update_dsb_idx(bp);
-	bnx2x_init_sp_ring(bp);
+void bnx2x_post_irq_nic_init(struct bnx2x *bp, u32 load_code)
+{
 	bnx2x_init_eq_ring(bp);
 	bnx2x_init_internal(bp, load_code);
 	bnx2x_pf_init(bp);
@@ -6058,12 +6063,7 @@ void bnx2x_nic_init(struct bnx2x *bp, u32 load_code)
 				   AEU_INPUTS_ATTN_BITS_SPIO5);
 }
 
-/* end of nic init */
-
-/*
- * gzip service functions
- */
-
+/* gzip service functions */
 static int bnx2x_gunzip_init(struct bnx2x *bp)
 {
 	bp->gunzip_buf = dma_alloc_coherent(&bp->pdev->dev, FW_BUF_SIZE,