if (ether_addr_equal(addr->sa_data, dev->dev_addr))
                return 0;
 
-       rc = bnxt_approve_mac(bp, addr->sa_data);
+       rc = bnxt_approve_mac(bp, addr->sa_data, true);
        if (rc)
                return rc;
 
        } else {
 #ifdef CONFIG_BNXT_SRIOV
                struct bnxt_vf_info *vf = &bp->vf;
+               bool strict_approval = true;
 
                if (is_valid_ether_addr(vf->mac_addr)) {
                        /* overwrite netdev dev_addr with admin VF MAC */
                        memcpy(bp->dev->dev_addr, vf->mac_addr, ETH_ALEN);
+                       /* Older PF driver or firmware may not approve this
+                        * correctly.
+                        */
+                       strict_approval = false;
                } else {
                        eth_hw_addr_random(bp->dev);
                }
-               rc = bnxt_approve_mac(bp, bp->dev->dev_addr);
+               rc = bnxt_approve_mac(bp, bp->dev->dev_addr, strict_approval);
 #endif
        }
        return rc;
 
        mutex_unlock(&bp->hwrm_cmd_lock);
 }
 
-int bnxt_approve_mac(struct bnxt *bp, u8 *mac)
+int bnxt_approve_mac(struct bnxt *bp, u8 *mac, bool strict)
 {
        struct hwrm_func_vf_cfg_input req = {0};
        int rc = 0;
        memcpy(req.dflt_mac_addr, mac, ETH_ALEN);
        rc = hwrm_send_message(bp, &req, sizeof(req), HWRM_CMD_TIMEOUT);
 mac_done:
-       if (rc) {
+       if (rc && strict) {
                rc = -EADDRNOTAVAIL;
                netdev_warn(bp->dev, "VF MAC address %pM not approved by the PF\n",
                            mac);
+               return rc;
        }
-       return rc;
+       return 0;
 }
 #else
 
 {
 }
 
-int bnxt_approve_mac(struct bnxt *bp, u8 *mac)
+int bnxt_approve_mac(struct bnxt *bp, u8 *mac, bool strict)
 {
        return 0;
 }
 
 void bnxt_sriov_disable(struct bnxt *);
 void bnxt_hwrm_exec_fwd_req(struct bnxt *);
 void bnxt_update_vf_mac(struct bnxt *);
-int bnxt_approve_mac(struct bnxt *, u8 *);
+int bnxt_approve_mac(struct bnxt *, u8 *, bool);
 #endif