write_csr(dd, DC_LCB_CFG_TX_FIFOS_RESET, 0x00);
 }
 
+/*
+ * Perform a test read on the QSFP.  Return 0 on success, -ERRNO
+ * on error.
+ */
+static int test_qsfp_read(struct hfi1_pportdata *ppd)
+{
+       int ret;
+       u8 status;
+
+       /* report success if not a QSFP */
+       if (ppd->port_type != PORT_TYPE_QSFP)
+               return 0;
+
+       /* read byte 2, the status byte */
+       ret = one_qsfp_read(ppd, ppd->dd->hfi1_id, 2, &status, 1);
+       if (ret < 0)
+               return ret;
+       if (ret != 1)
+               return -EIO;
+
+       return 0; /* success */
+}
+
+/*
+ * Values for QSFP retry.
+ *
+ * Give up after 10s (20 x 500ms).  The overall timeout was empirically
+ * arrived at from experience on a large cluster.
+ */
+#define MAX_QSFP_RETRIES 20
+#define QSFP_RETRY_WAIT 500 /* msec */
+
+/*
+ * Try a QSFP read.  If it fails, schedule a retry for later.
+ * Called on first link activation after driver load.
+ */
+static void try_start_link(struct hfi1_pportdata *ppd)
+{
+       if (test_qsfp_read(ppd)) {
+               /* read failed */
+               if (ppd->qsfp_retry_count >= MAX_QSFP_RETRIES) {
+                       dd_dev_err(ppd->dd, "QSFP not responding, giving up\n");
+                       return;
+               }
+               dd_dev_info(ppd->dd,
+                           "QSFP not responding, waiting and retrying %d\n",
+                           (int)ppd->qsfp_retry_count);
+               ppd->qsfp_retry_count++;
+               queue_delayed_work(ppd->hfi1_wq, &ppd->start_link_work,
+                                  msecs_to_jiffies(QSFP_RETRY_WAIT));
+               return;
+       }
+       ppd->qsfp_retry_count = 0;
+
+       /*
+        * Tune the SerDes to a ballpark setting for optimal signal and bit
+        * error rate.  Needs to be done before starting the link.
+        */
+       tune_serdes(ppd);
+       start_link(ppd);
+}
+
+/*
+ * Workqueue function to start the link after a delay.
+ */
+void handle_start_link(struct work_struct *work)
+{
+       struct hfi1_pportdata *ppd = container_of(work, struct hfi1_pportdata,
+                                                 start_link_work.work);
+       try_start_link(ppd);
+}
+
 int bringup_serdes(struct hfi1_pportdata *ppd)
 {
        struct hfi1_devdata *dd = ppd->dd;
                set_qsfp_int_n(ppd, 1);
        }
 
-       /*
-        * Tune the SerDes to a ballpark setting for
-        * optimal signal and bit error rate
-        * Needs to be done before starting the link
-        */
-       tune_serdes(ppd);
-
-       return start_link(ppd);
+       try_start_link(ppd);
+       return 0;
 }
 
 void hfi1_quiet_serdes(struct hfi1_pportdata *ppd)
        ppd->driver_link_ready = 0;
        ppd->link_enabled = 0;
 
+       ppd->qsfp_retry_count = MAX_QSFP_RETRIES; /* prevent more retries */
+       flush_delayed_work(&ppd->start_link_work);
+       cancel_delayed_work_sync(&ppd->start_link_work);
+
        ppd->offline_disabled_reason =
                        HFI1_ODR_MASK(OPA_LINKDOWN_REASON_SMA_DISABLED);
        set_link_down_reason(ppd, OPA_LINKDOWN_REASON_SMA_DISABLED, 0,