diff --git a/drivers/staging/fsl-dpaa2/ethernet/dpaa2-ethtool.c b/drivers/staging/fsl-dpaa2/ethernet/dpaa2-ethtool.c
index dfbfa946aa3f150d25c0d2449d183d6b0ccb678f..bfc8b64169ca0b990e7cd3eb4678492e6412e567 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/fsl-dpaa2/ethernet/dpaa2-ethtool.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/fsl-dpaa2/ethernet/dpaa2-ethtool.c
@@ -119,6 +119,8 @@ dpaa2_eth_get_link_ksettings(struct net_device *net_dev,
 	return err;
 }
 
+#define DPNI_DYNAMIC_LINK_SET_VER_MAJOR		7
+#define DPNI_DYNAMIC_LINK_SET_VER_MINOR		1
 static int
 dpaa2_eth_set_link_ksettings(struct net_device *net_dev,
 			     const struct ethtool_link_ksettings *link_settings)
@@ -127,15 +129,16 @@ dpaa2_eth_set_link_ksettings(struct net_device *net_dev,
 	struct dpaa2_eth_priv *priv = netdev_priv(net_dev);
 	int err = 0;
 
-	netdev_dbg(net_dev, "Setting link parameters...");
-
-	/* Due to a temporary MC limitation, the DPNI must be down
+	/* If using an older MC version, the DPNI must be down
 	 * in order to be able to change link settings. Taking steps to let
 	 * the user know that.
 	 */
-	if (netif_running(net_dev)) {
-		netdev_info(net_dev, "Sorry, interface must be brought down first.\n");
-		return -EACCES;
+	if (dpaa2_eth_cmp_dpni_ver(priv, DPNI_DYNAMIC_LINK_SET_VER_MAJOR,
+				   DPNI_DYNAMIC_LINK_SET_VER_MINOR) < 0) {
+		if (netif_running(net_dev)) {
+			netdev_info(net_dev, "Interface must be brought down first.\n");
+			return -EACCES;
+		}
 	}
 
 	cfg.rate = link_settings->base.speed;