diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/igb/e1000_82575.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/igb/e1000_82575.c
index c9bba39d50bd130cd581a801f7c2abfb33de73ef..6cb0ca2869b981fae5f818eeb0a4d7a20b82913e 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/igb/e1000_82575.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/igb/e1000_82575.c
@@ -389,6 +389,9 @@ static s32 igb_init_mac_params_82575(struct e1000_hw *hw)
 		dev_spec->eee_disable = false;
 	else
 		dev_spec->eee_disable = true;
+	/* Allow a single clear of the SW semaphore on I210 and newer */
+	if (mac->type >= e1000_i210)
+		dev_spec->clear_semaphore_once = true;
 	/* physical interface link setup */
 	mac->ops.setup_physical_interface =
 		(hw->phy.media_type == e1000_media_type_copper)
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/igb/e1000_hw.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/igb/e1000_hw.h
index 1138ccaf95ff13ad3a78eb74c1a74f6dcccd010d..f1dbab9202862118004abf5f935594de612123a9 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/igb/e1000_hw.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/igb/e1000_hw.h
@@ -529,6 +529,7 @@ struct e1000_dev_spec_82575 {
 	bool sgmii_active;
 	bool global_device_reset;
 	bool eee_disable;
+	bool clear_semaphore_once;
 };
 
 struct e1000_hw {
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/igb/e1000_i210.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/igb/e1000_i210.c
index 9764cd3610e5490edd8c24c82c7d19f0b2b612f0..ddb3cf51b9b91825875fa2ecbb84e69fef09dff0 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/igb/e1000_i210.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/igb/e1000_i210.c
@@ -44,10 +44,42 @@
 static s32 igb_get_hw_semaphore_i210(struct e1000_hw *hw)
 {
 	u32 swsm;
-	s32 ret_val = E1000_SUCCESS;
 	s32 timeout = hw->nvm.word_size + 1;
 	s32 i = 0;
 
+	/* Get the SW semaphore */
+	while (i < timeout) {
+		swsm = rd32(E1000_SWSM);
+		if (!(swsm & E1000_SWSM_SMBI))
+			break;
+
+		udelay(50);
+		i++;
+	}
+
+	if (i == timeout) {
+		/* In rare circumstances, the SW semaphore may already be held
+		 * unintentionally. Clear the semaphore once before giving up.
+		 */
+		if (hw->dev_spec._82575.clear_semaphore_once) {
+			hw->dev_spec._82575.clear_semaphore_once = false;
+			igb_put_hw_semaphore(hw);
+			for (i = 0; i < timeout; i++) {
+				swsm = rd32(E1000_SWSM);
+				if (!(swsm & E1000_SWSM_SMBI))
+					break;
+
+				udelay(50);
+			}
+		}
+
+		/* If we do not have the semaphore here, we have to give up. */
+		if (i == timeout) {
+			hw_dbg("Driver can't access device - SMBI bit is set.\n");
+			return -E1000_ERR_NVM;
+		}
+	}
+
 	/* Get the FW semaphore. */
 	for (i = 0; i < timeout; i++) {
 		swsm = rd32(E1000_SWSM);
@@ -64,12 +96,10 @@ static s32 igb_get_hw_semaphore_i210(struct e1000_hw *hw)
 		/* Release semaphores */
 		igb_put_hw_semaphore(hw);
 		hw_dbg("Driver can't access the NVM\n");
-		ret_val = -E1000_ERR_NVM;
-		goto out;
+		return -E1000_ERR_NVM;
 	}
 
-out:
-	return ret_val;
+	return E1000_SUCCESS;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -98,23 +128,6 @@ void igb_release_nvm_i210(struct e1000_hw *hw)
 	igb_release_swfw_sync_i210(hw, E1000_SWFW_EEP_SM);
 }
 
-/**
- *  igb_put_hw_semaphore_i210 - Release hardware semaphore
- *  @hw: pointer to the HW structure
- *
- *  Release hardware semaphore used to access the PHY or NVM
- **/
-static void igb_put_hw_semaphore_i210(struct e1000_hw *hw)
-{
-	u32 swsm;
-
-	swsm = rd32(E1000_SWSM);
-
-	swsm &= ~E1000_SWSM_SWESMBI;
-
-	wr32(E1000_SWSM, swsm);
-}
-
 /**
  *  igb_acquire_swfw_sync_i210 - Acquire SW/FW semaphore
  *  @hw: pointer to the HW structure
@@ -138,11 +151,11 @@ s32 igb_acquire_swfw_sync_i210(struct e1000_hw *hw, u16 mask)
 		}
 
 		swfw_sync = rd32(E1000_SW_FW_SYNC);
-		if (!(swfw_sync & fwmask))
+		if (!(swfw_sync & (fwmask | swmask)))
 			break;
 
 		/* Firmware currently using resource (fwmask) */
-		igb_put_hw_semaphore_i210(hw);
+		igb_put_hw_semaphore(hw);
 		mdelay(5);
 		i++;
 	}
@@ -156,7 +169,7 @@ s32 igb_acquire_swfw_sync_i210(struct e1000_hw *hw, u16 mask)
 	swfw_sync |= swmask;
 	wr32(E1000_SW_FW_SYNC, swfw_sync);
 
-	igb_put_hw_semaphore_i210(hw);
+	igb_put_hw_semaphore(hw);
 out:
 	return ret_val;
 }
@@ -180,7 +193,7 @@ void igb_release_swfw_sync_i210(struct e1000_hw *hw, u16 mask)
 	swfw_sync &= ~mask;
 	wr32(E1000_SW_FW_SYNC, swfw_sync);
 
-	igb_put_hw_semaphore_i210(hw);
+	igb_put_hw_semaphore(hw);
 }
 
 /**