diff --git a/drivers/net/netxen/netxen_nic.h b/drivers/net/netxen/netxen_nic.h
index 7722068..f744d29 100644
--- a/drivers/net/netxen/netxen_nic.h
+++ b/drivers/net/netxen/netxen_nic.h
@@ -53,8 +53,8 @@
 
 #define _NETXEN_NIC_LINUX_MAJOR 4
 #define _NETXEN_NIC_LINUX_MINOR 0
-#define _NETXEN_NIC_LINUX_SUBVERSION 75
-#define NETXEN_NIC_LINUX_VERSIONID  "4.0.75"
+#define _NETXEN_NIC_LINUX_SUBVERSION 76
+#define NETXEN_NIC_LINUX_VERSIONID  "4.0.76"
 
 #define NETXEN_VERSION_CODE(a, b, c)	(((a) << 24) + ((b) << 16) + (c))
 #define _major(v)	(((v) >> 24) & 0xff)
@@ -1302,6 +1302,7 @@ int netxen_nic_wol_supported(struct netxen_adapter *adapter);
 int netxen_init_dummy_dma(struct netxen_adapter *adapter);
 void netxen_free_dummy_dma(struct netxen_adapter *adapter);
 
+int netxen_check_flash_fw_compatibility(struct netxen_adapter *adapter);
 int netxen_phantom_init(struct netxen_adapter *adapter, int pegtune_val);
 int netxen_load_firmware(struct netxen_adapter *adapter);
 int netxen_need_fw_reset(struct netxen_adapter *adapter);
diff --git a/drivers/net/netxen/netxen_nic_init.c b/drivers/net/netxen/netxen_nic_init.c
index ca59b4f..e8993a7 100644
--- a/drivers/net/netxen/netxen_nic_init.c
+++ b/drivers/net/netxen/netxen_nic_init.c
@@ -964,6 +964,35 @@ netxen_need_fw_reset(struct netxen_adapter *adapter)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+#define NETXEN_MIN_P3_FW_SUPP	NETXEN_VERSION_CODE(4, 0, 505)
+
+int
+netxen_check_flash_fw_compatibility(struct netxen_adapter *adapter)
+{
+	u32 flash_fw_ver, min_fw_ver;
+
+	if (NX_IS_REVISION_P2(adapter->ahw.revision_id))
+		return 0;
+
+	if (netxen_rom_fast_read(adapter,
+			NX_FW_VERSION_OFFSET, (int *)&flash_fw_ver)) {
+		dev_err(&adapter->pdev->dev, "Unable to read flash fw"
+			"version\n");
+		return -EIO;
+	}
+
+	flash_fw_ver = NETXEN_DECODE_VERSION(flash_fw_ver);
+	min_fw_ver = NETXEN_MIN_P3_FW_SUPP;
+	if (flash_fw_ver >= min_fw_ver)
+		return 0;
+
+	dev_info(&adapter->pdev->dev, "Flash fw[%d.%d.%d] is < min fw supported"
+		"[4.0.505]. Please update firmware on flash\n",
+		_major(flash_fw_ver), _minor(flash_fw_ver),
+		_build(flash_fw_ver));
+	return -EINVAL;
+}
+
 static char *fw_name[] = {
 	NX_P2_MN_ROMIMAGE_NAME,
 	NX_P3_CT_ROMIMAGE_NAME,
@@ -1071,10 +1100,12 @@ static int
 netxen_validate_firmware(struct netxen_adapter *adapter)
 {
 	__le32 val;
-	u32 ver, min_ver, bios;
+	__le32 flash_fw_ver;
+	u32 file_fw_ver, min_ver, bios;
 	struct pci_dev *pdev = adapter->pdev;
 	const struct firmware *fw = adapter->fw;
 	u8 fw_type = adapter->fw_type;
+	u32 crbinit_fix_fw;
 
 	if (fw_type == NX_UNIFIED_ROMIMAGE) {
 		if (netxen_nic_validate_unified_romimage(adapter))
@@ -1091,16 +1122,18 @@ netxen_validate_firmware(struct netxen_adapter *adapter)
 	val = nx_get_fw_version(adapter);
 
 	if (NX_IS_REVISION_P3(adapter->ahw.revision_id))
-		min_ver = NETXEN_VERSION_CODE(4, 0, 216);
+		min_ver = NETXEN_MIN_P3_FW_SUPP;
 	else
 		min_ver = NETXEN_VERSION_CODE(3, 4, 216);
 
-	ver = NETXEN_DECODE_VERSION(val);
+	file_fw_ver = NETXEN_DECODE_VERSION(val);
 
-	if ((_major(ver) > _NETXEN_NIC_LINUX_MAJOR) || (ver < min_ver)) {
+	if ((_major(file_fw_ver) > _NETXEN_NIC_LINUX_MAJOR) ||
+	    (file_fw_ver < min_ver)) {
 		dev_err(&pdev->dev,
 				"%s: firmware version %d.%d.%d unsupported\n",
-		fw_name[fw_type], _major(ver), _minor(ver), _build(ver));
+		fw_name[fw_type], _major(file_fw_ver), _minor(file_fw_ver),
+		 _build(file_fw_ver));
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
@@ -1112,17 +1145,34 @@ netxen_validate_firmware(struct netxen_adapter *adapter)
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
-	/* check if flashed firmware is newer */
 	if (netxen_rom_fast_read(adapter,
-			NX_FW_VERSION_OFFSET, (int *)&val))
+			NX_FW_VERSION_OFFSET, (int *)&flash_fw_ver)) {
+		dev_err(&pdev->dev, "Unable to read flash fw version\n");
 		return -EIO;
-	val = NETXEN_DECODE_VERSION(val);
-	if (val > ver) {
-		dev_info(&pdev->dev, "%s: firmware is older than flash\n",
-				fw_name[fw_type]);
+	}
+	flash_fw_ver = NETXEN_DECODE_VERSION(flash_fw_ver);
+
+	/* New fw from file is not allowed, if fw on flash is < 4.0.554 */
+	crbinit_fix_fw = NETXEN_VERSION_CODE(4, 0, 554);
+	if (file_fw_ver >= crbinit_fix_fw && flash_fw_ver < crbinit_fix_fw &&
+	    NX_IS_REVISION_P3(adapter->ahw.revision_id)) {
+		dev_err(&pdev->dev, "Incompatibility detected between driver "
+			"and firmware version on flash. This configuration "
+			"is not recommended. Please update the firmware on "
+			"flash immediately\n");
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
+	/* check if flashed firmware is newer only for no-mn and P2 case*/
+	if (!netxen_p3_has_mn(adapter) ||
+	    NX_IS_REVISION_P2(adapter->ahw.revision_id)) {
+		if (flash_fw_ver > file_fw_ver) {
+			dev_info(&pdev->dev, "%s: firmware is older than flash\n",
+				fw_name[fw_type]);
+			return -EINVAL;
+		}
+	}
+
 	NXWR32(adapter, NETXEN_CAM_RAM(0x1fc), NETXEN_BDINFO_MAGIC);
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/drivers/net/netxen/netxen_nic_main.c b/drivers/net/netxen/netxen_nic_main.c
index 30f41e6..f574edf 100644
--- a/drivers/net/netxen/netxen_nic_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/netxen/netxen_nic_main.c
@@ -1388,6 +1388,10 @@ netxen_nic_probe(struct pci_dev *pdev, const struct pci_device_id *ent)
 		break;
 	}
 
+	err = netxen_check_flash_fw_compatibility(adapter);
+	if (err)
+		goto err_out_iounmap;
+
 	if (adapter->portnum == 0) {
 		val = NXRD32(adapter, NX_CRB_DEV_REF_COUNT);
 		if (val != 0xffffffff && val != 0) {
