diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x.h
index f33fab6abb95..8e35dbaca76e 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x.h
@@ -1155,10 +1155,6 @@ struct bnx2x_port {
 			(offsetof(struct bnx2x_eth_stats, stat_name) / 4)
 
 /* slow path */
-
-/* slow path work-queue */
-extern struct workqueue_struct *bnx2x_wq;
-
 #define BNX2X_MAX_NUM_OF_VFS	64
 #define BNX2X_VF_CID_WND	4 /* log num of queues per VF. HW config. */
 #define BNX2X_CIDS_PER_VF	(1 << BNX2X_VF_CID_WND)
@@ -1416,6 +1412,12 @@ enum sp_rtnl_flag {
 	BNX2X_SP_RTNL_GET_DRV_VERSION,
 };
 
+enum bnx2x_iov_flag {
+	BNX2X_IOV_HANDLE_VF_MSG,
+	BNX2X_IOV_CONT_VFOP,
+	BNX2X_IOV_HANDLE_FLR,
+};
+
 struct bnx2x_prev_path_list {
 	struct list_head list;
 	u8 bus;
@@ -1614,6 +1616,8 @@ struct bnx2x {
 	int			mrrs;
 
 	struct delayed_work	sp_task;
+	struct delayed_work	iov_task;
+
 	atomic_t		interrupt_occurred;
 	struct delayed_work	sp_rtnl_task;
 
@@ -1897,6 +1901,9 @@ struct bnx2x {
 	/* operation indication for the sp_rtnl task */
 	unsigned long				sp_rtnl_state;
 
+	/* Indication of the IOV tasks */
+	unsigned long				iov_task_state;
+
 	/* DCBX Negotiation results */
 	struct dcbx_features			dcbx_local_feat;
 	u32					dcbx_error;
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_main.c
index faef7b19a529..b5c7f77e8108 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_main.c
@@ -120,7 +120,8 @@ static int debug;
 module_param(debug, int, S_IRUGO);
 MODULE_PARM_DESC(debug, " Default debug msglevel");
 
-struct workqueue_struct *bnx2x_wq;
+static struct workqueue_struct *bnx2x_wq;
+struct workqueue_struct *bnx2x_iov_wq;
 
 struct bnx2x_mac_vals {
 	u32 xmac_addr;
@@ -1857,7 +1858,7 @@ void bnx2x_sp_event(struct bnx2x_fastpath *fp, union eth_rx_cqe *rr_cqe)
 		return;
 #endif
 	/* SRIOV: reschedule any 'in_progress' operations */
-	bnx2x_iov_sp_event(bp, cid, true);
+	bnx2x_iov_sp_event(bp, cid);
 
 	smp_mb__before_atomic_inc();
 	atomic_inc(&bp->cq_spq_left);
@@ -4160,7 +4161,8 @@ static void bnx2x_attn_int_deasserted3(struct bnx2x *bp, u32 attn)
 				bnx2x_handle_drv_info_req(bp);
 
 			if (val & DRV_STATUS_VF_DISABLED)
-				bnx2x_vf_handle_flr_event(bp);
+				bnx2x_schedule_iov_task(bp,
+							BNX2X_IOV_HANDLE_FLR);
 
 			if ((bp->port.pmf == 0) && (val & DRV_STATUS_PMF))
 				bnx2x_pmf_update(bp);
@@ -5351,8 +5353,8 @@ static void bnx2x_eq_int(struct bnx2x *bp)
 		/* handle eq element */
 		switch (opcode) {
 		case EVENT_RING_OPCODE_VF_PF_CHANNEL:
-			DP(BNX2X_MSG_IOV, "vf pf channel element on eq\n");
-			bnx2x_vf_mbx(bp, &elem->message.data.vf_pf_event);
+			bnx2x_vf_mbx_schedule(bp,
+					      &elem->message.data.vf_pf_event);
 			continue;
 
 		case EVENT_RING_OPCODE_STAT_QUERY:
@@ -5567,13 +5569,6 @@ static void bnx2x_sp_task(struct work_struct *work)
 			     le16_to_cpu(bp->def_att_idx), IGU_INT_ENABLE, 1);
 	}
 
-	/* must be called after the EQ processing (since eq leads to sriov
-	 * ramrod completion flows).
-	 * This flow may have been scheduled by the arrival of a ramrod
-	 * completion, or by the sriov code rescheduling itself.
-	 */
-	bnx2x_iov_sp_task(bp);
-
 	/* afex - poll to check if VIFSET_ACK should be sent to MFW */
 	if (test_and_clear_bit(BNX2X_AFEX_PENDING_VIFSET_MCP_ACK,
 			       &bp->sp_state)) {
@@ -8990,6 +8985,7 @@ static int bnx2x_func_wait_started(struct bnx2x *bp)
 		synchronize_irq(bp->pdev->irq);
 
 	flush_workqueue(bnx2x_wq);
+	flush_workqueue(bnx2x_iov_wq);
 
 	while (bnx2x_func_get_state(bp, &bp->func_obj) !=
 				BNX2X_F_STATE_STARTED && tout--)
@@ -11877,6 +11873,7 @@ static int bnx2x_init_bp(struct bnx2x *bp)
 	INIT_DELAYED_WORK(&bp->sp_task, bnx2x_sp_task);
 	INIT_DELAYED_WORK(&bp->sp_rtnl_task, bnx2x_sp_rtnl_task);
 	INIT_DELAYED_WORK(&bp->period_task, bnx2x_period_task);
+	INIT_DELAYED_WORK(&bp->iov_task, bnx2x_iov_task);
 	if (IS_PF(bp)) {
 		rc = bnx2x_get_hwinfo(bp);
 		if (rc)
@@ -13499,11 +13496,18 @@ static int __init bnx2x_init(void)
 		pr_err("Cannot create workqueue\n");
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
+	bnx2x_iov_wq = create_singlethread_workqueue("bnx2x_iov");
+	if (!bnx2x_iov_wq) {
+		pr_err("Cannot create iov workqueue\n");
+		destroy_workqueue(bnx2x_wq);
+		return -ENOMEM;
+	}
 
 	ret = pci_register_driver(&bnx2x_pci_driver);
 	if (ret) {
 		pr_err("Cannot register driver\n");
 		destroy_workqueue(bnx2x_wq);
+		destroy_workqueue(bnx2x_iov_wq);
 	}
 	return ret;
 }
@@ -13515,6 +13519,7 @@ static void __exit bnx2x_cleanup(void)
 	pci_unregister_driver(&bnx2x_pci_driver);
 
 	destroy_workqueue(bnx2x_wq);
+	destroy_workqueue(bnx2x_iov_wq);
 
 	/* Free globally allocated resources */
 	list_for_each_safe(pos, q, &bnx2x_prev_list) {
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_sriov.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_sriov.c
index 61e6f606d8a4..8e2b191234f1 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_sriov.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_sriov.c
@@ -2042,6 +2042,9 @@ int bnx2x_iov_init_one(struct bnx2x *bp, int int_mode_param,
 		goto failed;
 	}
 
+	/* Prepare the VFs event synchronization mechanism */
+	mutex_init(&bp->vfdb->event_mutex);
+
 	return 0;
 failed:
 	DP(BNX2X_MSG_IOV, "Failed err=%d\n", err);
@@ -2469,7 +2472,7 @@ get_vf:
 		return 0;
 	}
 	/* SRIOV: reschedule any 'in_progress' operations */
-	bnx2x_iov_sp_event(bp, cid, false);
+	bnx2x_iov_sp_event(bp, cid);
 
 	return 0;
 }
@@ -2506,7 +2509,7 @@ void bnx2x_iov_set_queue_sp_obj(struct bnx2x *bp, int vf_cid,
 	}
 }
 
-void bnx2x_iov_sp_event(struct bnx2x *bp, int vf_cid, bool queue_work)
+void bnx2x_iov_sp_event(struct bnx2x *bp, int vf_cid)
 {
 	struct bnx2x_virtf *vf;
 
@@ -2518,8 +2521,7 @@ void bnx2x_iov_sp_event(struct bnx2x *bp, int vf_cid, bool queue_work)
 	if (vf) {
 		/* set in_progress flag */
 		atomic_set(&vf->op_in_progress, 1);
-		if (queue_work)
-			queue_delayed_work(bnx2x_wq, &bp->sp_task, 0);
+		bnx2x_schedule_iov_task(bp, BNX2X_IOV_CONT_VFOP);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -2604,7 +2606,7 @@ void bnx2x_iov_adjust_stats_req(struct bnx2x *bp)
 	bp->fw_stats_req->hdr.cmd_num = bp->fw_stats_num + stats_count;
 }
 
-void bnx2x_iov_sp_task(struct bnx2x *bp)
+void bnx2x_iov_vfop_cont(struct bnx2x *bp)
 {
 	int i;
 
@@ -3875,3 +3877,32 @@ void bnx2x_iov_channel_down(struct bnx2x *bp)
 		bnx2x_post_vf_bulletin(bp, vf_idx);
 	}
 }
+
+void bnx2x_iov_task(struct work_struct *work)
+{
+	struct bnx2x *bp = container_of(work, struct bnx2x, iov_task.work);
+
+	if (!netif_running(bp->dev))
+		return;
+
+	if (test_and_clear_bit(BNX2X_IOV_HANDLE_FLR,
+			       &bp->iov_task_state))
+		bnx2x_vf_handle_flr_event(bp);
+
+	if (test_and_clear_bit(BNX2X_IOV_CONT_VFOP,
+			       &bp->iov_task_state))
+		bnx2x_iov_vfop_cont(bp);
+
+	if (test_and_clear_bit(BNX2X_IOV_HANDLE_VF_MSG,
+			       &bp->iov_task_state))
+		bnx2x_vf_mbx(bp);
+}
+
+void bnx2x_schedule_iov_task(struct bnx2x *bp, enum bnx2x_iov_flag flag)
+{
+	smp_mb__before_clear_bit();
+	set_bit(flag, &bp->iov_task_state);
+	smp_mb__after_clear_bit();
+	DP(BNX2X_MSG_IOV, "Scheduling iov task [Flag: %d]\n", flag);
+	queue_delayed_work(bnx2x_iov_wq, &bp->iov_task, 0);
+}
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_sriov.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_sriov.h
index b1dc751c6175..87f7c9743f71 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_sriov.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_sriov.h
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ enum sample_bulletin_result {
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_BNX2X_SRIOV
 
+extern struct workqueue_struct *bnx2x_iov_wq;
+
 /* The bnx2x device structure holds vfdb structure described below.
  * The VF array is indexed by the relative vfid.
  */
@@ -346,11 +348,6 @@ struct bnx2x_vf_mbx {
 	u32 vf_addr_hi;
 
 	struct vfpf_first_tlv first_tlv;	/* saved VF request header */
-
-	u8 flags;
-#define VF_MSG_INPROCESS	0x1	/* failsafe - the FW should prevent
-					 * more then one pending msg
-					 */
 };
 
 struct bnx2x_vf_sp {
@@ -427,6 +424,10 @@ struct bnx2x_vfdb {
 	/* the number of msix vectors belonging to this PF designated for VFs */
 	u16 vf_sbs_pool;
 	u16 first_vf_igu_entry;
+
+	/* sp_rtnl synchronization */
+	struct mutex			event_mutex;
+	u64				event_occur;
 };
 
 /* queue access */
@@ -476,13 +477,14 @@ void bnx2x_iov_init_dq(struct bnx2x *bp);
 void bnx2x_iov_init_dmae(struct bnx2x *bp);
 void bnx2x_iov_set_queue_sp_obj(struct bnx2x *bp, int vf_cid,
 				struct bnx2x_queue_sp_obj **q_obj);
-void bnx2x_iov_sp_event(struct bnx2x *bp, int vf_cid, bool queue_work);
+void bnx2x_iov_sp_event(struct bnx2x *bp, int vf_cid);
 int bnx2x_iov_eq_sp_event(struct bnx2x *bp, union event_ring_elem *elem);
 void bnx2x_iov_adjust_stats_req(struct bnx2x *bp);
 void bnx2x_iov_storm_stats_update(struct bnx2x *bp);
-void bnx2x_iov_sp_task(struct bnx2x *bp);
 /* global vf mailbox routines */
-void bnx2x_vf_mbx(struct bnx2x *bp, struct vf_pf_event_data *vfpf_event);
+void bnx2x_vf_mbx(struct bnx2x *bp);
+void bnx2x_vf_mbx_schedule(struct bnx2x *bp,
+			   struct vf_pf_event_data *vfpf_event);
 void bnx2x_vf_enable_mbx(struct bnx2x *bp, u8 abs_vfid);
 
 /* CORE VF API */
@@ -520,7 +522,8 @@ enum {
 		else {							\
 			DP(BNX2X_MSG_IOV, "no ramrod. Scheduling\n");	\
 			atomic_set(&vf->op_in_progress, 1);		\
-			queue_delayed_work(bnx2x_wq, &bp->sp_task, 0);  \
+			bnx2x_schedule_iov_task(bp,			\
+						BNX2X_IOV_CONT_VFOP);	\
 			return;						\
 		}							\
 	} while (0)
@@ -785,18 +788,21 @@ void bnx2x_pf_set_vfs_vlan(struct bnx2x *bp);
 int bnx2x_sriov_configure(struct pci_dev *dev, int num_vfs);
 void bnx2x_iov_channel_down(struct bnx2x *bp);
 
+void bnx2x_iov_task(struct work_struct *work);
+
+void bnx2x_schedule_iov_task(struct bnx2x *bp, enum bnx2x_iov_flag flag);
+
 #else /* CONFIG_BNX2X_SRIOV */
 
 static inline void bnx2x_iov_set_queue_sp_obj(struct bnx2x *bp, int vf_cid,
 				struct bnx2x_queue_sp_obj **q_obj) {}
-static inline void bnx2x_iov_sp_event(struct bnx2x *bp, int vf_cid,
-				      bool queue_work) {}
+static inline void bnx2x_iov_sp_event(struct bnx2x *bp, int vf_cid) {}
 static inline void bnx2x_vf_handle_flr_event(struct bnx2x *bp) {}
 static inline int bnx2x_iov_eq_sp_event(struct bnx2x *bp,
 					union event_ring_elem *elem) {return 1; }
-static inline void bnx2x_iov_sp_task(struct bnx2x *bp) {}
-static inline void bnx2x_vf_mbx(struct bnx2x *bp,
-				struct vf_pf_event_data *vfpf_event) {}
+static inline void bnx2x_vf_mbx(struct bnx2x *bp) {}
+static inline void bnx2x_vf_mbx_schedule(struct bnx2x *bp,
+					 struct vf_pf_event_data *vfpf_event) {}
 static inline int bnx2x_iov_init_ilt(struct bnx2x *bp, u16 line) {return line; }
 static inline void bnx2x_iov_init_dq(struct bnx2x *bp) {}
 static inline int bnx2x_iov_alloc_mem(struct bnx2x *bp) {return 0; }
@@ -843,5 +849,8 @@ static inline void bnx2x_pf_set_vfs_vlan(struct bnx2x *bp) {}
 static inline int bnx2x_sriov_configure(struct pci_dev *dev, int num_vfs) {return 0; }
 static inline void bnx2x_iov_channel_down(struct bnx2x *bp) {}
 
+static inline void bnx2x_iov_task(struct work_struct *work) {}
+void bnx2x_schedule_iov_task(struct bnx2x *bp, enum bnx2x_iov_flag flag) {}
+
 #endif /* CONFIG_BNX2X_SRIOV */
 #endif /* bnx2x_sriov.h */
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_vfpf.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_vfpf.c
index 1117ed7776b6..63c95658ba60 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_vfpf.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_vfpf.c
@@ -1089,9 +1089,6 @@ static void bnx2x_vf_mbx_resp_send_msg(struct bnx2x *bp,
 	storm_memset_vf_mbx_ack(bp, vf->abs_vfid);
 	mmiowb();
 
-	/* initiate dmae to send the response */
-	mbx->flags &= ~VF_MSG_INPROCESS;
-
 	/* copy the response header including status-done field,
 	 * must be last dmae, must be after FW is acked
 	 */
@@ -2059,13 +2056,10 @@ static void bnx2x_vf_mbx_request(struct bnx2x *bp, struct bnx2x_virtf *vf,
 	}
 }
 
-/* handle new vf-pf message */
-void bnx2x_vf_mbx(struct bnx2x *bp, struct vf_pf_event_data *vfpf_event)
+void bnx2x_vf_mbx_schedule(struct bnx2x *bp,
+			   struct vf_pf_event_data *vfpf_event)
 {
-	struct bnx2x_virtf *vf;
-	struct bnx2x_vf_mbx *mbx;
 	u8 vf_idx;
-	int rc;
 
 	DP(BNX2X_MSG_IOV,
 	   "vf pf event received: vfid %d, address_hi %x, address lo %x",
@@ -2077,50 +2071,73 @@ void bnx2x_vf_mbx(struct bnx2x *bp, struct vf_pf_event_data *vfpf_event)
 	    BNX2X_NR_VIRTFN(bp)) {
 		BNX2X_ERR("Illegal vf_id %d max allowed: %d\n",
 			  vfpf_event->vf_id, BNX2X_NR_VIRTFN(bp));
-		goto mbx_done;
+		return;
 	}
+
 	vf_idx = bnx2x_vf_idx_by_abs_fid(bp, vfpf_event->vf_id);
-	mbx = BP_VF_MBX(bp, vf_idx);
 
-	/* verify an event is not currently being processed -
-	 * debug failsafe only
-	 */
-	if (mbx->flags & VF_MSG_INPROCESS) {
-		BNX2X_ERR("Previous message is still being processed, vf_id %d\n",
-			  vfpf_event->vf_id);
-		goto mbx_done;
+	/* Update VFDB with current message and schedule its handling */
+	mutex_lock(&BP_VFDB(bp)->event_mutex);
+	BP_VF_MBX(bp, vf_idx)->vf_addr_hi = vfpf_event->msg_addr_hi;
+	BP_VF_MBX(bp, vf_idx)->vf_addr_lo = vfpf_event->msg_addr_lo;
+	BP_VFDB(bp)->event_occur |= (1ULL << vf_idx);
+	mutex_unlock(&BP_VFDB(bp)->event_mutex);
+
+	bnx2x_schedule_iov_task(bp, BNX2X_IOV_HANDLE_VF_MSG);
+}
+
+/* handle new vf-pf messages */
+void bnx2x_vf_mbx(struct bnx2x *bp)
+{
+	struct bnx2x_vfdb *vfdb = BP_VFDB(bp);
+	u64 events;
+	u8 vf_idx;
+	int rc;
+
+	if (!vfdb)
+		return;
+
+	mutex_lock(&vfdb->event_mutex);
+	events = vfdb->event_occur;
+	vfdb->event_occur = 0;
+	mutex_unlock(&vfdb->event_mutex);
+
+	for_each_vf(bp, vf_idx) {
+		struct bnx2x_vf_mbx *mbx = BP_VF_MBX(bp, vf_idx);
+		struct bnx2x_virtf *vf = BP_VF(bp, vf_idx);
+
+		/* Handle VFs which have pending events */
+		if (!(events & (1ULL << vf_idx)))
+			continue;
+
+		DP(BNX2X_MSG_IOV,
+		   "Handling vf pf event vfid %d, address: [%x:%x], resp_offset 0x%x\n",
+		   vf_idx, mbx->vf_addr_hi, mbx->vf_addr_lo,
+		   mbx->first_tlv.resp_msg_offset);
+
+		/* dmae to get the VF request */
+		rc = bnx2x_copy32_vf_dmae(bp, true, mbx->msg_mapping,
+					  vf->abs_vfid, mbx->vf_addr_hi,
+					  mbx->vf_addr_lo,
+					  sizeof(union vfpf_tlvs)/4);
+		if (rc) {
+			BNX2X_ERR("Failed to copy request VF %d\n",
+				  vf->abs_vfid);
+			bnx2x_vf_release(bp, vf, false); /* non blocking */
+			return;
+		}
+
+		/* process the VF message header */
+		mbx->first_tlv = mbx->msg->req.first_tlv;
+
+		/* Clean response buffer to refrain from falsely
+		 * seeing chains.
+		 */
+		memset(&mbx->msg->resp, 0, sizeof(union pfvf_tlvs));
+
+		/* dispatch the request (will prepare the response) */
+		bnx2x_vf_mbx_request(bp, vf, mbx);
 	}
-	vf = BP_VF(bp, vf_idx);
-
-	/* save the VF message address */
-	mbx->vf_addr_hi = vfpf_event->msg_addr_hi;
-	mbx->vf_addr_lo = vfpf_event->msg_addr_lo;
-	DP(BNX2X_MSG_IOV, "mailbox vf address hi 0x%x, lo 0x%x, offset 0x%x\n",
-	   mbx->vf_addr_hi, mbx->vf_addr_lo, mbx->first_tlv.resp_msg_offset);
-
-	/* dmae to get the VF request */
-	rc = bnx2x_copy32_vf_dmae(bp, true, mbx->msg_mapping, vf->abs_vfid,
-				  mbx->vf_addr_hi, mbx->vf_addr_lo,
-				  sizeof(union vfpf_tlvs)/4);
-	if (rc) {
-		BNX2X_ERR("Failed to copy request VF %d\n", vf->abs_vfid);
-		goto mbx_error;
-	}
-
-	/* process the VF message header */
-	mbx->first_tlv = mbx->msg->req.first_tlv;
-
-	/* Clean response buffer to refrain from falsely seeing chains */
-	memset(&mbx->msg->resp, 0, sizeof(union pfvf_tlvs));
-
-	/* dispatch the request (will prepare the response) */
-	bnx2x_vf_mbx_request(bp, vf, mbx);
-	goto mbx_done;
-
-mbx_error:
-	bnx2x_vf_release(bp, vf, false); /* non blocking */
-mbx_done:
-	return;
 }
 
 /* propagate local bulletin board to vf */