diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/emulex/benet/be.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/emulex/benet/be.h
index f4825db5d179..5878df619b53 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/emulex/benet/be.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/emulex/benet/be.h
@@ -503,6 +503,7 @@ struct be_adapter {
 };
 
 #define be_physfn(adapter)		(!adapter->virtfn)
+#define be_virtfn(adapter)		(adapter->virtfn)
 #define	sriov_enabled(adapter)		(adapter->num_vfs > 0)
 #define sriov_want(adapter)             (be_physfn(adapter) &&	\
 					 (num_vfs || pci_num_vf(adapter->pdev)))
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/emulex/benet/be_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/emulex/benet/be_main.c
index 9b148cf04704..78a0e859760b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/emulex/benet/be_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/emulex/benet/be_main.c
@@ -3253,12 +3253,10 @@ static int be_mac_setup(struct be_adapter *adapter)
 		memcpy(mac, adapter->netdev->dev_addr, ETH_ALEN);
 	}
 
-	/* On BE3 VFs this cmd may fail due to lack of privilege.
-	 * Ignore the failure as in this case pmac_id is fetched
-	 * in the IFACE_CREATE cmd.
-	 */
-	be_cmd_pmac_add(adapter, mac, adapter->if_handle,
-			&adapter->pmac_id[0], 0);
+	/* For BE3-R VFs, the PF programs the initial MAC address */
+	if (!(BEx_chip(adapter) && be_virtfn(adapter)))
+		be_cmd_pmac_add(adapter, mac, adapter->if_handle,
+				&adapter->pmac_id[0], 0);
 	return 0;
 }