diff --git a/drivers/net/bnx2x_link.c b/drivers/net/bnx2x_link.c
index ffa412f63c96..f4c699ecfb41 100644
--- a/drivers/net/bnx2x_link.c
+++ b/drivers/net/bnx2x_link.c
@@ -297,8 +297,10 @@ static u8 bnx2x_emac_enable(struct link_params *params,
 			   port*4, 0);
 	}
 
-	/* enable emac */
-	REG_WR(bp, NIG_REG_NIG_EMAC0_EN + port*4, 1);
+	bnx2x_bits_en(bp, emac_base + EMAC_REG_EMAC_RX_MODE,
+		    EMAC_RX_MODE_RESET);
+	bnx2x_bits_en(bp, emac_base + EMAC_REG_EMAC_TX_MODE,
+		    EMAC_TX_MODE_RESET);
 
 	if (CHIP_REV_IS_SLOW(bp)) {
 		/* config GMII mode */
diff --git a/drivers/net/bnx2x_reg.h b/drivers/net/bnx2x_reg.h
index 5cfeac96ea69..b6c924934a00 100644
--- a/drivers/net/bnx2x_reg.h
+++ b/drivers/net/bnx2x_reg.h
@@ -5173,9 +5173,11 @@
 #define EMAC_RX_MODE_FLOW_EN					 (1L<<2)
 #define EMAC_RX_MODE_KEEP_VLAN_TAG				 (1L<<10)
 #define EMAC_RX_MODE_PROMISCUOUS				 (1L<<8)
+#define EMAC_RX_MODE_RESET					 (1L<<0)
 #define EMAC_RX_MTU_SIZE_JUMBO_ENA				 (1L<<31)
 #define EMAC_TX_MODE_EXT_PAUSE_EN				 (1L<<3)
 #define EMAC_TX_MODE_FLOW_EN					 (1L<<4)
+#define EMAC_TX_MODE_RESET					 (1L<<0)
 #define MISC_REGISTERS_GPIO_0					 0
 #define MISC_REGISTERS_GPIO_1					 1
 #define MISC_REGISTERS_GPIO_2					 2