diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_main.c
index 6f21a095fab77..249ba704d4711 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_main.c
@@ -8626,6 +8626,7 @@ void bnx2x_chip_cleanup(struct bnx2x *bp, int unload_mode, bool keep_link)
 
 	netif_addr_unlock_bh(bp->dev);
 
+	bnx2x_iov_chip_cleanup(bp);
 
 
 	/*
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_sriov.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_sriov.c
index 3dd3a6acdf575..71d0976b14d82 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_sriov.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_sriov.c
@@ -1422,6 +1422,14 @@ bnx2x_iov_static_resc(struct bnx2x *bp, struct vf_pf_resc_request *resc)
 	/* num_sbs already set */
 }
 
+/* FLR routines: */
+static void bnx2x_vf_free_resc(struct bnx2x *bp, struct bnx2x_virtf *vf)
+{
+	/* reset the state variables */
+	bnx2x_iov_static_resc(bp, &vf->alloc_resc);
+	vf->state = VF_FREE;
+}
+
 /* IOV global initialization routines  */
 void bnx2x_iov_init_dq(struct bnx2x *bp)
 {
@@ -1947,6 +1955,21 @@ int bnx2x_iov_nic_init(struct bnx2x *bp)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+/* called by bnx2x_chip_cleanup */
+int bnx2x_iov_chip_cleanup(struct bnx2x *bp)
+{
+	int i;
+
+	if (!IS_SRIOV(bp))
+		return 0;
+
+	/* release all the VFs */
+	for_each_vf(bp, i)
+		bnx2x_vf_release(bp, BP_VF(bp, i), true); /* blocking */
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
 /* called by bnx2x_init_hw_func, returns the next ilt line */
 int bnx2x_iov_init_ilt(struct bnx2x *bp, u16 line)
 {
@@ -2566,6 +2589,106 @@ int bnx2x_vfop_close_cmd(struct bnx2x *bp,
 	return -ENOMEM;
 }
 
+/* VF release can be called either: 1. the VF was acquired but
+ * not enabled 2. the vf was enabled or in the process of being
+ * enabled
+ */
+static void bnx2x_vfop_release(struct bnx2x *bp, struct bnx2x_virtf *vf)
+{
+	struct bnx2x_vfop *vfop = bnx2x_vfop_cur(bp, vf);
+	struct bnx2x_vfop_cmd cmd = {
+		.done = bnx2x_vfop_release,
+		.block = false,
+	};
+
+	DP(BNX2X_MSG_IOV, "vfop->rc %d\n", vfop->rc);
+
+	if (vfop->rc < 0)
+		goto op_err;
+
+	DP(BNX2X_MSG_IOV, "VF[%d] STATE: %s\n", vf->abs_vfid,
+	   vf->state == VF_FREE ? "Free" :
+	   vf->state == VF_ACQUIRED ? "Acquired" :
+	   vf->state == VF_ENABLED ? "Enabled" :
+	   vf->state == VF_RESET ? "Reset" :
+	   "Unknown");
+
+	switch (vf->state) {
+	case VF_ENABLED:
+		vfop->rc = bnx2x_vfop_close_cmd(bp, vf, &cmd);
+		if (vfop->rc)
+			goto op_err;
+		return;
+
+	case VF_ACQUIRED:
+		DP(BNX2X_MSG_IOV, "about to free resources\n");
+		bnx2x_vf_free_resc(bp, vf);
+		DP(BNX2X_MSG_IOV, "vfop->rc %d\n", vfop->rc);
+		goto op_done;
+
+	case VF_FREE:
+	case VF_RESET:
+		/* do nothing */
+		goto op_done;
+	default:
+		bnx2x_vfop_default(vf->state);
+	}
+op_err:
+	BNX2X_ERR("VF[%d] RELEASE error: rc %d\n", vf->abs_vfid, vfop->rc);
+op_done:
+	bnx2x_vfop_end(bp, vf, vfop);
+}
+
+int bnx2x_vfop_release_cmd(struct bnx2x *bp,
+			   struct bnx2x_virtf *vf,
+			   struct bnx2x_vfop_cmd *cmd)
+{
+	struct bnx2x_vfop *vfop = bnx2x_vfop_add(bp, vf);
+	if (vfop) {
+		bnx2x_vfop_opset(-1, /* use vf->state */
+				 bnx2x_vfop_release, cmd->done);
+		return bnx2x_vfop_transition(bp, vf, bnx2x_vfop_release,
+					     cmd->block);
+	}
+	return -ENOMEM;
+}
+
+/* VF release ~ VF close + VF release-resources
+ * Release is the ultimate SW shutdown and is called whenever an
+ * irrecoverable error is encountered.
+ */
+void bnx2x_vf_release(struct bnx2x *bp, struct bnx2x_virtf *vf, bool block)
+{
+	struct bnx2x_vfop_cmd cmd = {
+		.done = NULL,
+		.block = block,
+	};
+	int rc;
+	bnx2x_lock_vf_pf_channel(bp, vf, CHANNEL_TLV_PF_RELEASE_VF);
+
+	rc = bnx2x_vfop_release_cmd(bp, vf, &cmd);
+	if (rc)
+		WARN(rc,
+		     "VF[%d] Failed to allocate resources for release op- rc=%d\n",
+		     vf->abs_vfid, rc);
+}
+
+static inline void bnx2x_vf_get_sbdf(struct bnx2x *bp,
+			      struct bnx2x_virtf *vf, u32 *sbdf)
+{
+	*sbdf = vf->devfn | (vf->bus << 8);
+}
+
+static inline void bnx2x_vf_get_bars(struct bnx2x *bp, struct bnx2x_virtf *vf,
+		       struct bnx2x_vf_bar_info *bar_info)
+{
+	int n;
+
+	bar_info->nr_bars = bp->vfdb->sriov.nres;
+	for (n = 0; n < bar_info->nr_bars; n++)
+		bar_info->bars[n] = vf->bars[n];
+}
+
 void bnx2x_lock_vf_pf_channel(struct bnx2x *bp, struct bnx2x_virtf *vf,
 			      enum channel_tlvs tlv)
 {
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_sriov.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_sriov.h
index d2a65d66c3256..a09db28f76c29 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_sriov.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_sriov.h
@@ -51,6 +51,11 @@ struct bnx2x_vf_bar {
 	u32 size;
 };
 
+struct bnx2x_vf_bar_info {
+	struct bnx2x_vf_bar bars[PCI_SRIOV_NUM_BARS];
+	u8 nr_bars;
+};
+
 /* vf queue (used both for rx or tx) */
 struct bnx2x_vf_queue {
 	struct eth_context		*cxt;
@@ -429,6 +434,7 @@ void bnx2x_iov_remove_one(struct bnx2x *bp);
 void bnx2x_iov_free_mem(struct bnx2x *bp);
 int bnx2x_iov_alloc_mem(struct bnx2x *bp);
 int bnx2x_iov_nic_init(struct bnx2x *bp);
+int bnx2x_iov_chip_cleanup(struct bnx2x *bp);
 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,
@@ -546,6 +552,11 @@ static inline void bnx2x_vfop_end(struct bnx2x *bp, struct bnx2x_virtf *vf,
 	if (vfop->done) {
 		DP(BNX2X_MSG_IOV, "calling done handler\n");
 		vfop->done(bp, vf);
+	} else {
+		/* there is no done handler for the operation to unlock
+		 * the mutex. Must have gotten here from PF initiated VF RELEASE
+		 */
+		bnx2x_unlock_vf_pf_channel(bp, vf, CHANNEL_TLV_PF_RELEASE_VF);
 	}
 
 	DP(BNX2X_MSG_IOV, "done handler complete. vf->op_rc %d, vfop->rc %d\n",
@@ -661,6 +672,16 @@ int bnx2x_vfop_close_cmd(struct bnx2x *bp,
 			 struct bnx2x_virtf *vf,
 			 struct bnx2x_vfop_cmd *cmd);
 
+int bnx2x_vfop_release_cmd(struct bnx2x *bp,
+			   struct bnx2x_virtf *vf,
+			   struct bnx2x_vfop_cmd *cmd);
+
+/* VF release ~ VF close + VF release-resources
+ *
+ * Release is the ultimate SW shutdown and is called whenever an
+ * irrecoverable error is encountered.
+ */
+void bnx2x_vf_release(struct bnx2x *bp, struct bnx2x_virtf *vf, bool block);
 int bnx2x_vf_idx_by_abs_fid(struct bnx2x *bp, u16 abs_vfid);
 u8 bnx2x_vf_max_queue_cnt(struct bnx2x *bp, struct bnx2x_virtf *vf);
 /* VF FLR helpers */
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_vfpf.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_vfpf.c
index 73368aa28e269..ba8b95d016b05 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_vfpf.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_vfpf.c
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ static void bnx2x_vf_mbx_resp(struct bnx2x *bp, struct bnx2x_virtf *vf)
 		if (rc) {
 			BNX2X_ERR("Failed to copy response body to VF %d\n",
 				  vf->abs_vfid);
-			return;
+			goto mbx_error;
 		}
 		vf_addr -= sizeof(u64);
 		pf_addr -= sizeof(u64);
@@ -255,8 +255,12 @@ static void bnx2x_vf_mbx_resp(struct bnx2x *bp, struct bnx2x_virtf *vf)
 	if (rc) {
 		BNX2X_ERR("Failed to copy response status to VF %d\n",
 			  vf->abs_vfid);
+		goto mbx_error;
 	}
 	return;
+
+mbx_error:
+	bnx2x_vf_release(bp, vf, false); /* non blocking */
 }
 
 static void bnx2x_vf_mbx_acquire_resp(struct bnx2x *bp, struct bnx2x_virtf *vf,
@@ -819,6 +823,21 @@ static void bnx2x_vf_mbx_close_vf(struct bnx2x *bp, struct bnx2x_virtf *vf,
 		bnx2x_vf_mbx_resp(bp, vf);
 }
 
+static void bnx2x_vf_mbx_release_vf(struct bnx2x *bp, struct bnx2x_virtf *vf,
+				    struct bnx2x_vf_mbx *mbx)
+{
+	struct bnx2x_vfop_cmd cmd = {
+		.done = bnx2x_vf_mbx_resp,
+		.block = false,
+	};
+
+	DP(BNX2X_MSG_IOV, "VF[%d] VF_RELEASE\n", vf->abs_vfid);
+
+	vf->op_rc = bnx2x_vfop_release_cmd(bp, vf, &cmd);
+	if (vf->op_rc)
+		bnx2x_vf_mbx_resp(bp, vf);
+}
+
 /* dispatch request */
 static void bnx2x_vf_mbx_request(struct bnx2x *bp, struct bnx2x_virtf *vf,
 				  struct bnx2x_vf_mbx *mbx)
@@ -852,6 +871,9 @@ static void bnx2x_vf_mbx_request(struct bnx2x *bp, struct bnx2x_virtf *vf,
 		case CHANNEL_TLV_CLOSE:
 			bnx2x_vf_mbx_close_vf(bp, vf, mbx);
 			break;
+		case CHANNEL_TLV_RELEASE:
+			bnx2x_vf_mbx_release_vf(bp, vf, mbx);
+			break;
 		}
 
 	} else {
@@ -942,6 +964,7 @@ void bnx2x_vf_mbx(struct bnx2x *bp, struct vf_pf_event_data *vfpf_event)
 	goto mbx_done;
 
 mbx_error:
+	bnx2x_vf_release(bp, vf, false); /* non blocking */
 mbx_done:
 	return;
 }
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_vfpf.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_vfpf.h
index bf11e084c2155..6278a9ed46391 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_vfpf.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_vfpf.h
@@ -310,6 +310,7 @@ enum channel_tlvs {
 	CHANNEL_TLV_TEARDOWN_Q,
 	CHANNEL_TLV_CLOSE,
 	CHANNEL_TLV_RELEASE,
+	CHANNEL_TLV_PF_RELEASE_VF,
 	CHANNEL_TLV_LIST_END,
 	CHANNEL_TLV_MAX
 };