diff --git a/drivers/scsi/qla2xxx/qla_def.h b/drivers/scsi/qla2xxx/qla_def.h
index 8aa1cccebab13..d76c0e9f114c2 100644
--- a/drivers/scsi/qla2xxx/qla_def.h
+++ b/drivers/scsi/qla2xxx/qla_def.h
@@ -4624,6 +4624,7 @@ struct qla_hw_data {
 	struct workqueue_struct *wq;
 	struct work_struct heartbeat_work;
 	struct qlfc_fw fw_buf;
+	unsigned long last_heartbeat_run_jiffies;
 
 	/* FCP_CMND priority support */
 	struct qla_fcp_prio_cfg *fcp_prio_cfg;
diff --git a/drivers/scsi/qla2xxx/qla_os.c b/drivers/scsi/qla2xxx/qla_os.c
index 9c4f2b38b34e4..81451c11eef4d 100644
--- a/drivers/scsi/qla2xxx/qla_os.c
+++ b/drivers/scsi/qla2xxx/qla_os.c
@@ -7215,7 +7215,7 @@ static bool qla_do_heartbeat(struct scsi_qla_host *vha)
 	return do_heartbeat;
 }
 
-static void qla_heart_beat(struct scsi_qla_host *vha)
+static void qla_heart_beat(struct scsi_qla_host *vha, u16 dpc_started)
 {
 	struct qla_hw_data *ha = vha->hw;
 
@@ -7225,8 +7225,19 @@ static void qla_heart_beat(struct scsi_qla_host *vha)
 	if (vha->hw->flags.eeh_busy || qla2x00_chip_is_down(vha))
 		return;
 
-	if (qla_do_heartbeat(vha))
+	/*
+	 * dpc thread cannot run if heartbeat is running at the same time.
+	 * We also do not want to starve heartbeat task. Therefore, do
+	 * heartbeat task at least once every 5 seconds.
+	 */
+	if (dpc_started &&
+	    time_before(jiffies, ha->last_heartbeat_run_jiffies + 5 * HZ))
+		return;
+
+	if (qla_do_heartbeat(vha)) {
+		ha->last_heartbeat_run_jiffies = jiffies;
 		queue_work(ha->wq, &ha->heartbeat_work);
+	}
 }
 
 /**************************************************************************
@@ -7417,6 +7428,8 @@ qla2x00_timer(struct timer_list *t)
 		start_dpc++;
 	}
 
+	/* borrowing w to signify dpc will run */
+	w = 0;
 	/* Schedule the DPC routine if needed */
 	if ((test_bit(ISP_ABORT_NEEDED, &vha->dpc_flags) ||
 	    test_bit(LOOP_RESYNC_NEEDED, &vha->dpc_flags) ||
@@ -7449,9 +7462,10 @@ qla2x00_timer(struct timer_list *t)
 		    test_bit(RELOGIN_NEEDED, &vha->dpc_flags),
 		    test_bit(PROCESS_PUREX_IOCB, &vha->dpc_flags));
 		qla2xxx_wake_dpc(vha);
+		w = 1;
 	}
 
-	qla_heart_beat(vha);
+	qla_heart_beat(vha, w);
 
 	qla2x00_restart_timer(vha, WATCH_INTERVAL);
 }