diff --git a/drivers/infiniband/hw/mthca/mthca_memfree.c b/drivers/infiniband/hw/mthca/mthca_memfree.c
index b224079d4e1f..d5862e5d99a0 100644
--- a/drivers/infiniband/hw/mthca/mthca_memfree.c
+++ b/drivers/infiniband/hw/mthca/mthca_memfree.c
@@ -109,7 +109,11 @@ static int mthca_alloc_icm_pages(struct scatterlist *mem, int order, gfp_t gfp_m
 {
 	struct page *page;
 
-	page = alloc_pages(gfp_mask, order);
+	/*
+	 * Use __GFP_ZERO because buggy firmware assumes ICM pages are
+	 * cleared, and subtle failures are seen if they aren't.
+	 */
+	page = alloc_pages(gfp_mask | __GFP_ZERO, order);
 	if (!page)
 		return -ENOMEM;