diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_cmn.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_cmn.c
index 03f3935fd8c2..b75c8eab095c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_cmn.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_cmn.c
@@ -1783,6 +1783,29 @@ int bnx2x_nic_load(struct bnx2x *bp, int load_mode)
 			rc = -EBUSY; /* other port in diagnostic mode */
 			LOAD_ERROR_EXIT(bp, load_error1);
 		}
+		if (load_code != FW_MSG_CODE_DRV_LOAD_COMMON_CHIP &&
+		    load_code != FW_MSG_CODE_DRV_LOAD_COMMON) {
+			/* build FW version dword */
+			u32 my_fw = (BCM_5710_FW_MAJOR_VERSION) +
+					(BCM_5710_FW_MINOR_VERSION << 8) +
+					(BCM_5710_FW_REVISION_VERSION << 16) +
+					(BCM_5710_FW_ENGINEERING_VERSION << 24);
+
+			/* read loaded FW from chip */
+			u32 loaded_fw = REG_RD(bp, XSEM_REG_PRAM);
+
+			DP(BNX2X_MSG_SP, "loaded fw %x, my fw %x",
+			   loaded_fw, my_fw);
+
+			/* abort nic load if version mismatch */
+			if (my_fw != loaded_fw) {
+				BNX2X_ERR("bnx2x with FW %x already loaded, "
+					  "which mismatches my %x FW. aborting",
+					  loaded_fw, my_fw);
+				rc = -EBUSY;
+				LOAD_ERROR_EXIT(bp, load_error2);
+			}
+		}
 
 	} else {
 		int path = BP_PATH(bp);