diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_core.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_core.c
index 8b1ee83..ff4bfb28 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_core.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_core.c
@@ -164,15 +164,6 @@ void liquidio_link_ctrl_cmd_completion(void *nctrl_ptr)
 		}
 		break;
 
-	case OCTNET_CMD_CHANGE_MTU:
-		/* If command is successful, change the MTU. */
-		netif_info(lio, probe, lio->netdev, "MTU Changed from %d to %d\n",
-			   netdev->mtu, nctrl->ncmd.s.param1);
-		netdev->mtu = nctrl->ncmd.s.param1;
-		queue_delayed_work(lio->link_status_wq.wq,
-				   &lio->link_status_wq.wk.work, 0);
-		break;
-
 	case OCTNET_CMD_GPIO_ACCESS:
 		netif_info(lio, probe, lio->netdev, "LED Flashing visual identification\n");
 
@@ -1081,3 +1072,90 @@ int octeon_setup_interrupt(struct octeon_device *oct, u32 num_ioqs)
 	}
 	return 0;
 }
+
+static void liquidio_change_mtu_completion(struct octeon_device *oct,
+					   u32 status, void *buf)
+{
+	struct octeon_soft_command *sc = (struct octeon_soft_command *)buf;
+	struct liquidio_if_cfg_context *ctx;
+
+	ctx  = (struct liquidio_if_cfg_context *)sc->ctxptr;
+
+	if (status) {
+		dev_err(&oct->pci_dev->dev, "MTU change failed. Status: %llx\n",
+			CVM_CAST64(status));
+		WRITE_ONCE(ctx->cond, LIO_CHANGE_MTU_FAIL);
+	} else {
+		WRITE_ONCE(ctx->cond, LIO_CHANGE_MTU_SUCCESS);
+	}
+
+	/* This barrier is required to be sure that the response has been
+	 * written fully before waking up the handler
+	 */
+	wmb();
+
+	wake_up_interruptible(&ctx->wc);
+}
+
+/**
+ * \brief Net device change_mtu
+ * @param netdev network device
+ */
+int liquidio_change_mtu(struct net_device *netdev, int new_mtu)
+{
+	struct lio *lio = GET_LIO(netdev);
+	struct octeon_device *oct = lio->oct_dev;
+	struct liquidio_if_cfg_context *ctx;
+	struct octeon_soft_command *sc;
+	union octnet_cmd *ncmd;
+	int ctx_size;
+	int ret = 0;
+
+	ctx_size = sizeof(struct liquidio_if_cfg_context);
+	sc = (struct octeon_soft_command *)
+		octeon_alloc_soft_command(oct, OCTNET_CMD_SIZE, 16, ctx_size);
+
+	ncmd = (union octnet_cmd *)sc->virtdptr;
+	ctx  = (struct liquidio_if_cfg_context *)sc->ctxptr;
+
+	WRITE_ONCE(ctx->cond, 0);
+	ctx->octeon_id = lio_get_device_id(oct);
+	init_waitqueue_head(&ctx->wc);
+
+	ncmd->u64 = 0;
+	ncmd->s.cmd = OCTNET_CMD_CHANGE_MTU;
+	ncmd->s.param1 = new_mtu;
+
+	octeon_swap_8B_data((u64 *)ncmd, (OCTNET_CMD_SIZE >> 3));
+
+	sc->iq_no = lio->linfo.txpciq[0].s.q_no;
+
+	octeon_prepare_soft_command(oct, sc, OPCODE_NIC,
+				    OPCODE_NIC_CMD, 0, 0, 0);
+
+	sc->callback = liquidio_change_mtu_completion;
+	sc->callback_arg = sc;
+	sc->wait_time = 100;
+
+	ret = octeon_send_soft_command(oct, sc);
+	if (ret == IQ_SEND_FAILED) {
+		netif_info(lio, rx_err, lio->netdev, "Failed to change MTU\n");
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+	/* Sleep on a wait queue till the cond flag indicates that the
+	 * response arrived or timed-out.
+	 */
+	if (sleep_cond(&ctx->wc, &ctx->cond) == -EINTR ||
+	    ctx->cond == LIO_CHANGE_MTU_FAIL) {
+		octeon_free_soft_command(oct, sc);
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+	/* command is successful, change the MTU. */
+	netif_info(lio, probe, lio->netdev, "MTU changed from %d to %d\n",
+		   netdev->mtu, new_mtu);
+	netdev->mtu = new_mtu;
+	lio->mtu = new_mtu;
+
+	octeon_free_soft_command(oct, sc);
+	return 0;
+}
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_main.c
index a5eecd8..140085b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_main.c
@@ -91,20 +91,6 @@ static int octeon_console_debug_enabled(u32 console)
  */
 #define LIO_SYNC_OCTEON_TIME_INTERVAL_MS 60000
 
-struct liquidio_if_cfg_context {
-	int octeon_id;
-
-	wait_queue_head_t wc;
-
-	int cond;
-};
-
-struct liquidio_if_cfg_resp {
-	u64 rh;
-	struct liquidio_if_cfg_info cfg_info;
-	u64 status;
-};
-
 struct liquidio_rx_ctl_context {
 	int octeon_id;
 
@@ -841,8 +827,12 @@ static void octnet_link_status_change(struct work_struct *work)
 	struct cavium_wk *wk = (struct cavium_wk *)work;
 	struct lio *lio = (struct lio *)wk->ctxptr;
 
+	/* lio->linfo.link.s.mtu always contains max MTU of the lio interface.
+	 * this API is invoked only when new max-MTU of the interface is
+	 * less than current MTU.
+	 */
 	rtnl_lock();
-	call_netdevice_notifiers(NETDEV_CHANGEMTU, lio->netdev);
+	dev_set_mtu(lio->netdev, lio->linfo.link.s.mtu);
 	rtnl_unlock();
 }
 
@@ -891,7 +881,11 @@ static inline void update_link_status(struct net_device *netdev,
 {
 	struct lio *lio = GET_LIO(netdev);
 	int changed = (lio->linfo.link.u64 != ls->u64);
+	int current_max_mtu = lio->linfo.link.s.mtu;
+	struct octeon_device *oct = lio->oct_dev;
 
+	dev_dbg(&oct->pci_dev->dev, "%s: lio->linfo.link.u64=%llx, ls->u64=%llx\n",
+		__func__, lio->linfo.link.u64, ls->u64);
 	lio->linfo.link.u64 = ls->u64;
 
 	if ((lio->intf_open) && (changed)) {
@@ -899,12 +893,26 @@ static inline void update_link_status(struct net_device *netdev,
 		lio->link_changes++;
 
 		if (lio->linfo.link.s.link_up) {
+			dev_dbg(&oct->pci_dev->dev, "%s: link_up", __func__);
 			netif_carrier_on(netdev);
 			txqs_wake(netdev);
 		} else {
+			dev_dbg(&oct->pci_dev->dev, "%s: link_off", __func__);
 			netif_carrier_off(netdev);
 			stop_txq(netdev);
 		}
+		if (lio->linfo.link.s.mtu != current_max_mtu) {
+			netif_info(lio, probe, lio->netdev, "Max MTU changed from %d to %d\n",
+				   current_max_mtu, lio->linfo.link.s.mtu);
+			netdev->max_mtu = lio->linfo.link.s.mtu;
+		}
+		if (lio->linfo.link.s.mtu < netdev->mtu) {
+			dev_warn(&oct->pci_dev->dev,
+				 "Current MTU is higher than new max MTU; Reducing the current mtu from %d to %d\n",
+				     netdev->mtu, lio->linfo.link.s.mtu);
+			queue_delayed_work(lio->link_status_wq.wq,
+					   &lio->link_status_wq.wk.work, 0);
+		}
 	}
 }
 
@@ -2449,38 +2457,6 @@ static struct net_device_stats *liquidio_get_stats(struct net_device *netdev)
 }
 
 /**
- * \brief Net device change_mtu
- * @param netdev network device
- */
-static int liquidio_change_mtu(struct net_device *netdev, int new_mtu)
-{
-	struct lio *lio = GET_LIO(netdev);
-	struct octeon_device *oct = lio->oct_dev;
-	struct octnic_ctrl_pkt nctrl;
-	int ret = 0;
-
-	memset(&nctrl, 0, sizeof(struct octnic_ctrl_pkt));
-
-	nctrl.ncmd.u64 = 0;
-	nctrl.ncmd.s.cmd = OCTNET_CMD_CHANGE_MTU;
-	nctrl.ncmd.s.param1 = new_mtu;
-	nctrl.iq_no = lio->linfo.txpciq[0].s.q_no;
-	nctrl.wait_time = 100;
-	nctrl.netpndev = (u64)netdev;
-	nctrl.cb_fn = liquidio_link_ctrl_cmd_completion;
-
-	ret = octnet_send_nic_ctrl_pkt(lio->oct_dev, &nctrl);
-	if (ret < 0) {
-		dev_err(&oct->pci_dev->dev, "Failed to set MTU\n");
-		return -1;
-	}
-
-	lio->mtu = new_mtu;
-
-	return 0;
-}
-
-/**
  * \brief Handler for SIOCSHWTSTAMP ioctl
  * @param netdev network device
  * @param ifr interface request
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_vf_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_vf_main.c
index fd70a48..3342d64 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_vf_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_vf_main.c
@@ -40,20 +40,6 @@
 
 #define DEFAULT_MSG_ENABLE (NETIF_MSG_DRV | NETIF_MSG_PROBE | NETIF_MSG_LINK)
 
-struct liquidio_if_cfg_context {
-	int octeon_id;
-
-	wait_queue_head_t wc;
-
-	int cond;
-};
-
-struct liquidio_if_cfg_resp {
-	u64 rh;
-	struct liquidio_if_cfg_info cfg_info;
-	u64 status;
-};
-
 struct liquidio_rx_ctl_context {
 	int octeon_id;
 
@@ -564,8 +550,12 @@ static void octnet_link_status_change(struct work_struct *work)
 	struct cavium_wk *wk = (struct cavium_wk *)work;
 	struct lio *lio = (struct lio *)wk->ctxptr;
 
+	/* lio->linfo.link.s.mtu always contains max MTU of the lio interface.
+	 * this API is invoked only when new max-MTU of the interface is
+	 * less than current MTU.
+	 */
 	rtnl_lock();
-	call_netdevice_notifiers(NETDEV_CHANGEMTU, lio->netdev);
+	dev_set_mtu(lio->netdev, lio->linfo.link.s.mtu);
 	rtnl_unlock();
 }
 
@@ -613,6 +603,7 @@ static void update_link_status(struct net_device *netdev,
 			       union oct_link_status *ls)
 {
 	struct lio *lio = GET_LIO(netdev);
+	int current_max_mtu = lio->linfo.link.s.mtu;
 	struct octeon_device *oct = lio->oct_dev;
 
 	if ((lio->intf_open) && (lio->linfo.link.u64 != ls->u64)) {
@@ -629,18 +620,17 @@ static void update_link_status(struct net_device *netdev,
 			txqs_stop(netdev);
 		}
 
-		if (lio->linfo.link.s.mtu != netdev->max_mtu) {
-			dev_info(&oct->pci_dev->dev, "Max MTU Changed from %d to %d\n",
-				 netdev->max_mtu, lio->linfo.link.s.mtu);
+		if (lio->linfo.link.s.mtu != current_max_mtu) {
+			dev_info(&oct->pci_dev->dev,
+				 "Max MTU Changed from %d to %d\n",
+				 current_max_mtu, lio->linfo.link.s.mtu);
 			netdev->max_mtu = lio->linfo.link.s.mtu;
 		}
 
 		if (lio->linfo.link.s.mtu < netdev->mtu) {
 			dev_warn(&oct->pci_dev->dev,
-				 "PF has changed the MTU for gmx port. Reducing the mtu from %d to %d\n",
+				 "Current MTU is higher than new max MTU; Reducing the current mtu from %d to %d\n",
 				 netdev->mtu, lio->linfo.link.s.mtu);
-			lio->mtu = lio->linfo.link.s.mtu;
-			netdev->mtu = lio->linfo.link.s.mtu;
 			queue_delayed_work(lio->link_status_wq.wq,
 					   &lio->link_status_wq.wk.work, 0);
 		}
@@ -1538,41 +1528,6 @@ static struct net_device_stats *liquidio_get_stats(struct net_device *netdev)
 }
 
 /**
- * \brief Net device change_mtu
- * @param netdev network device
- */
-static int liquidio_change_mtu(struct net_device *netdev, int new_mtu)
-{
-	struct octnic_ctrl_pkt nctrl;
-	struct octeon_device *oct;
-	struct lio *lio;
-	int ret = 0;
-
-	lio = GET_LIO(netdev);
-	oct = lio->oct_dev;
-
-	memset(&nctrl, 0, sizeof(struct octnic_ctrl_pkt));
-
-	nctrl.ncmd.u64 = 0;
-	nctrl.ncmd.s.cmd = OCTNET_CMD_CHANGE_MTU;
-	nctrl.ncmd.s.param1 = new_mtu;
-	nctrl.iq_no = lio->linfo.txpciq[0].s.q_no;
-	nctrl.wait_time = LIO_CMD_WAIT_TM;
-	nctrl.netpndev = (u64)netdev;
-	nctrl.cb_fn = liquidio_link_ctrl_cmd_completion;
-
-	ret = octnet_send_nic_ctrl_pkt(lio->oct_dev, &nctrl);
-	if (ret < 0) {
-		dev_err(&oct->pci_dev->dev, "Failed to set MTU\n");
-		return -EIO;
-	}
-
-	lio->mtu = new_mtu;
-
-	return 0;
-}
-
-/**
  * \brief Handler for SIOCSHWTSTAMP ioctl
  * @param netdev network device
  * @param ifr interface request
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/liquidio_common.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/liquidio_common.h
index 522dcc4..4f72ed1 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/liquidio_common.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/liquidio_common.h
@@ -192,7 +192,8 @@ static inline void add_sg_size(struct octeon_sg_entry *sg_entry,
 
 #define   OCTNET_MAX_FRM_SIZE        (16000 + OCTNET_FRM_HEADER_SIZE)
 
-#define   OCTNET_DEFAULT_FRM_SIZE    (1500 + OCTNET_FRM_HEADER_SIZE)
+#define   OCTNET_DEFAULT_MTU         (1500)
+#define   OCTNET_DEFAULT_FRM_SIZE  (OCTNET_DEFAULT_MTU + OCTNET_FRM_HEADER_SIZE)
 
 /** NIC Commands are sent using this Octeon Input Queue */
 #define   OCTNET_CMD_Q                0
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/octeon_network.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/octeon_network.h
index f2d1a07..76803a5 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/octeon_network.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/octeon_network.h
@@ -35,6 +35,18 @@
 #define   LIO_IFSTATE_RX_TIMESTAMP_ENABLED 0x08
 #define   LIO_IFSTATE_RESETTING		   0x10
 
+struct liquidio_if_cfg_context {
+	u32 octeon_id;
+	wait_queue_head_t wc;
+	int cond;
+};
+
+struct liquidio_if_cfg_resp {
+	u64 rh;
+	struct liquidio_if_cfg_info cfg_info;
+	u64 status;
+};
+
 struct oct_nic_stats_resp {
 	u64     rh;
 	struct oct_link_stats stats;
@@ -184,6 +196,14 @@ irqreturn_t liquidio_msix_intr_handler(int irq __attribute__((unused)),
  */
 void liquidio_set_ethtool_ops(struct net_device *netdev);
 
+/**
+ * \brief Net device change_mtu
+ * @param netdev network device
+ */
+int liquidio_change_mtu(struct net_device *netdev, int new_mtu);
+#define LIO_CHANGE_MTU_SUCCESS 1
+#define LIO_CHANGE_MTU_FAIL    2
+
 #define SKB_ADJ_MASK  0x3F
 #define SKB_ADJ       (SKB_ADJ_MASK + 1)
 
