diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/emulex/benet/be_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/emulex/benet/be_main.c
index 34e324f20d8047d987e7a93c9974f8c2482e3df4..2f76cbeab1e49b70fce50978e8e11d8a4c19cba4 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/emulex/benet/be_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/emulex/benet/be_main.c
@@ -5108,6 +5108,9 @@ static int be_ndo_bridge_setlink(struct net_device *dev, struct nlmsghdr *nlh,
 			return -EINVAL;
 
 		mode = nla_get_u16(attr);
+		if (BE3_chip(adapter) && mode == BRIDGE_MODE_VEPA)
+			return -EOPNOTSUPP;
+
 		if (mode != BRIDGE_MODE_VEPA && mode != BRIDGE_MODE_VEB)
 			return -EINVAL;