if (ret_val != 0)
                        goto setup_sfp_out;
 
+               /* PHY config will finish before releasing the semaphore */
+               ret_val = ixgbe_acquire_swfw_sync(hw, IXGBE_GSSR_MAC_CSR_SM);
+               if (ret_val != 0) {
+                       ret_val = IXGBE_ERR_SWFW_SYNC;
+                       goto setup_sfp_out;
+               }
+
                hw->eeprom.ops.read(hw, ++data_offset, &data_value);
                while (data_value != 0xffff) {
                        IXGBE_WRITE_REG(hw, IXGBE_CORECTL, data_value);
                IXGBE_WRITE_REG(hw, IXGBE_CORECTL, 0x00000102);
                IXGBE_WRITE_REG(hw, IXGBE_CORECTL, 0x00000b1d);
                IXGBE_WRITE_FLUSH(hw);
+
+               /* Release the semaphore */
+               ixgbe_release_swfw_sync(hw, IXGBE_GSSR_MAC_CSR_SM);
+               /* Delay obtaining semaphore again to allow FW access */
+               msleep(hw->eeprom.semaphore_delay);
        }
 
 setup_sfp_out: