diff --git a/drivers/net/bnx2.c b/drivers/net/bnx2.c
index 9eba7a2635ad..3b7ca2a455b4 100644
--- a/drivers/net/bnx2.c
+++ b/drivers/net/bnx2.c
@@ -3815,6 +3815,11 @@ bnx2_init_chip(struct bnx2 *bp)
 	/* Initialize the receive filter. */
 	bnx2_set_rx_mode(bp->dev);
 
+	if (CHIP_NUM(bp) == CHIP_NUM_5709) {
+		val = REG_RD(bp, BNX2_MISC_NEW_CORE_CTL);
+		val |= BNX2_MISC_NEW_CORE_CTL_DMA_ENABLE;
+		REG_WR(bp, BNX2_MISC_NEW_CORE_CTL, val);
+	}
 	rc = bnx2_fw_sync(bp, BNX2_DRV_MSG_DATA_WAIT2 | BNX2_DRV_MSG_CODE_RESET,
 			  0);
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/bnx2.h b/drivers/net/bnx2.h
index bd6288d6350f..49a5de253b17 100644
--- a/drivers/net/bnx2.h
+++ b/drivers/net/bnx2.h
@@ -1373,6 +1373,7 @@ struct l2_fhdr {
 #define BNX2_MISC_NEW_CORE_CTL				0x000008c8
 #define BNX2_MISC_NEW_CORE_CTL_LINK_HOLDOFF_SUCCESS	 (1L<<0)
 #define BNX2_MISC_NEW_CORE_CTL_LINK_HOLDOFF_REQ		 (1L<<1)
+#define BNX2_MISC_NEW_CORE_CTL_DMA_ENABLE		 (1L<<16)
 #define BNX2_MISC_NEW_CORE_CTL_RESERVED_CMN		 (0x3fffL<<2)
 #define BNX2_MISC_NEW_CORE_CTL_RESERVED_TC		 (0xffffL<<16)