diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_core.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_core.c
index 822ce0f..27b3655 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_core.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_core.c
@@ -198,14 +198,15 @@ int liquidio_set_feature(struct net_device *netdev, int cmd, u16 param1)
 	nctrl.ncmd.s.cmd = cmd;
 	nctrl.ncmd.s.param1 = param1;
 	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) {
+	if (ret) {
 		dev_err(&oct->pci_dev->dev, "Feature change failed in core (ret: 0x%x)\n",
 			ret);
+		if (ret > 0)
+			ret = -EIO;
 	}
 	return ret;
 }
@@ -285,15 +286,7 @@ void liquidio_link_ctrl_cmd_completion(void *nctrl_ptr)
 	struct octeon_device *oct = lio->oct_dev;
 	u8 *mac;
 
-	if (nctrl->completion && nctrl->response_code) {
-		/* Signal whoever is interested that the response code from the
-		 * firmware has arrived.
-		 */
-		WRITE_ONCE(*nctrl->response_code, nctrl->status);
-		complete(nctrl->completion);
-	}
-
-	if (nctrl->status)
+	if (nctrl->sc_status)
 		return;
 
 	switch (nctrl->ncmd.s.cmd) {
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_ethtool.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_ethtool.c
index 8e05afd..d374c44 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_ethtool.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_ethtool.c
@@ -472,12 +472,11 @@ lio_send_queue_count_update(struct net_device *netdev, uint32_t num_queues)
 	nctrl.ncmd.s.param1 = num_queues;
 	nctrl.ncmd.s.param2 = num_queues;
 	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) {
+	if (ret) {
 		dev_err(&oct->pci_dev->dev, "Failed to send Queue reset command (ret: 0x%x)\n",
 			ret);
 		return -1;
@@ -708,13 +707,13 @@ static int octnet_gpio_access(struct net_device *netdev, int addr, int val)
 	nctrl.ncmd.s.param1 = addr;
 	nctrl.ncmd.s.param2 = val;
 	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 configure gpio value\n");
+	if (ret) {
+		dev_err(&oct->pci_dev->dev,
+			"Failed to configure gpio value, ret=%d\n", ret);
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
@@ -734,13 +733,13 @@ static int octnet_id_active(struct net_device *netdev, int val)
 	nctrl.ncmd.s.cmd = OCTNET_CMD_ID_ACTIVE;
 	nctrl.ncmd.s.param1 = val;
 	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 configure gpio value\n");
+	if (ret) {
+		dev_err(&oct->pci_dev->dev,
+			"Failed to configure gpio value, ret=%d\n", ret);
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
@@ -1412,7 +1411,6 @@ lio_set_pauseparam(struct net_device *netdev, struct ethtool_pauseparam *pause)
 	nctrl.ncmd.u64 = 0;
 	nctrl.ncmd.s.cmd = OCTNET_CMD_SET_FLOW_CTL;
 	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;
 
@@ -1433,8 +1431,9 @@ lio_set_pauseparam(struct net_device *netdev, struct ethtool_pauseparam *pause)
 	}
 
 	ret = octnet_send_nic_ctrl_pkt(lio->oct_dev, &nctrl);
-	if (ret < 0) {
-		dev_err(&oct->pci_dev->dev, "Failed to set pause parameter\n");
+	if (ret) {
+		dev_err(&oct->pci_dev->dev,
+			"Failed to set pause parameter, ret=%d\n", ret);
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_main.c
index 8ddc191..9c5a53d 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_main.c
@@ -2039,10 +2039,9 @@ static void liquidio_set_mcast_list(struct net_device *netdev)
 	/* Apparently, any activity in this call from the kernel has to
 	 * be atomic. So we won't wait for response.
 	 */
-	nctrl.wait_time = 0;
 
 	ret = octnet_send_nic_ctrl_pkt(lio->oct_dev, &nctrl);
-	if (ret < 0) {
+	if (ret) {
 		dev_err(&oct->pci_dev->dev, "DEVFLAGS change failed in core (ret: 0x%x)\n",
 			ret);
 	}
@@ -2071,8 +2070,6 @@ static int liquidio_set_mac(struct net_device *netdev, void *p)
 	nctrl.ncmd.s.more = 1;
 	nctrl.iq_no = lio->linfo.txpciq[0].s.q_no;
 	nctrl.netpndev = (u64)netdev;
-	nctrl.cb_fn = liquidio_link_ctrl_cmd_completion;
-	nctrl.wait_time = 100;
 
 	nctrl.udd[0] = 0;
 	/* The MAC Address is presented in network byte order. */
@@ -2083,6 +2080,14 @@ static int liquidio_set_mac(struct net_device *netdev, void *p)
 		dev_err(&oct->pci_dev->dev, "MAC Address change failed\n");
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
+
+	if (nctrl.sc_status) {
+		dev_err(&oct->pci_dev->dev,
+			"%s: MAC Address change failed. sc return=%x\n",
+			 __func__, nctrl.sc_status);
+		return -EIO;
+	}
+
 	memcpy(netdev->dev_addr, addr->sa_data, netdev->addr_len);
 	memcpy(((u8 *)&lio->linfo.hw_addr) + 2, addr->sa_data, ETH_ALEN);
 
@@ -2623,14 +2628,15 @@ static int liquidio_vlan_rx_add_vid(struct net_device *netdev,
 	nctrl.ncmd.s.cmd = OCTNET_CMD_ADD_VLAN_FILTER;
 	nctrl.ncmd.s.param1 = vid;
 	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) {
+	if (ret) {
 		dev_err(&oct->pci_dev->dev, "Add VLAN filter failed in core (ret: 0x%x)\n",
 			ret);
+		if (ret > 0)
+			ret = -EIO;
 	}
 
 	return ret;
@@ -2651,14 +2657,15 @@ static int liquidio_vlan_rx_kill_vid(struct net_device *netdev,
 	nctrl.ncmd.s.cmd = OCTNET_CMD_DEL_VLAN_FILTER;
 	nctrl.ncmd.s.param1 = vid;
 	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) {
+	if (ret) {
 		dev_err(&oct->pci_dev->dev, "Del VLAN filter failed in core (ret: 0x%x)\n",
 			ret);
+		if (ret > 0)
+			ret = -EIO;
 	}
 	return ret;
 }
@@ -2684,15 +2691,16 @@ static int liquidio_set_rxcsum_command(struct net_device *netdev, int command,
 	nctrl.ncmd.s.cmd = command;
 	nctrl.ncmd.s.param1 = rx_cmd;
 	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) {
+	if (ret) {
 		dev_err(&oct->pci_dev->dev,
 			"DEVFLAGS RXCSUM change failed in core(ret:0x%x)\n",
 			ret);
+		if (ret > 0)
+			ret = -EIO;
 	}
 	return ret;
 }
@@ -2720,15 +2728,16 @@ static int liquidio_vxlan_port_command(struct net_device *netdev, int command,
 	nctrl.ncmd.s.more = vxlan_cmd_bit;
 	nctrl.ncmd.s.param1 = vxlan_port;
 	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) {
+	if (ret) {
 		dev_err(&oct->pci_dev->dev,
 			"VxLAN port add/delete failed in core (ret:0x%x)\n",
 			ret);
+		if (ret > 0)
+			ret = -EIO;
 	}
 	return ret;
 }
@@ -2851,6 +2860,7 @@ static int __liquidio_set_vf_mac(struct net_device *netdev, int vfidx,
 	struct lio *lio = GET_LIO(netdev);
 	struct octeon_device *oct = lio->oct_dev;
 	struct octnic_ctrl_pkt nctrl;
+	int ret = 0;
 
 	if (!is_valid_ether_addr(mac))
 		return -EINVAL;
@@ -2864,12 +2874,13 @@ static int __liquidio_set_vf_mac(struct net_device *netdev, int vfidx,
 	nctrl.ncmd.s.cmd = OCTNET_CMD_CHANGE_MACADDR;
 	/* vfidx is 0 based, but vf_num (param1) is 1 based */
 	nctrl.ncmd.s.param1 = vfidx + 1;
-	nctrl.ncmd.s.param2 = (is_admin_assigned ? 1 : 0);
 	nctrl.ncmd.s.more = 1;
 	nctrl.iq_no = lio->linfo.txpciq[0].s.q_no;
 	nctrl.netpndev = (u64)netdev;
-	nctrl.cb_fn = liquidio_link_ctrl_cmd_completion;
-	nctrl.wait_time = LIO_CMD_WAIT_TM;
+	if (is_admin_assigned) {
+		nctrl.ncmd.s.param2 = true;
+		nctrl.cb_fn = liquidio_link_ctrl_cmd_completion;
+	}
 
 	nctrl.udd[0] = 0;
 	/* The MAC Address is presented in network byte order. */
@@ -2877,9 +2888,11 @@ static int __liquidio_set_vf_mac(struct net_device *netdev, int vfidx,
 
 	oct->sriov_info.vf_macaddr[vfidx] = nctrl.udd[0];
 
-	octnet_send_nic_ctrl_pkt(oct, &nctrl);
+	ret = octnet_send_nic_ctrl_pkt(oct, &nctrl);
+	if (ret > 0)
+		ret = -EIO;
 
-	return 0;
+	return ret;
 }
 
 static int liquidio_set_vf_mac(struct net_device *netdev, int vfidx, u8 *mac)
@@ -2905,6 +2918,7 @@ static int liquidio_set_vf_vlan(struct net_device *netdev, int vfidx,
 	struct octeon_device *oct = lio->oct_dev;
 	struct octnic_ctrl_pkt nctrl;
 	u16 vlantci;
+	int ret = 0;
 
 	if (vfidx < 0 || vfidx >= oct->sriov_info.num_vfs_alloced)
 		return -EINVAL;
@@ -2936,13 +2950,17 @@ static int liquidio_set_vf_vlan(struct net_device *netdev, int vfidx,
 	nctrl.ncmd.s.more = 0;
 	nctrl.iq_no = lio->linfo.txpciq[0].s.q_no;
 	nctrl.cb_fn = NULL;
-	nctrl.wait_time = LIO_CMD_WAIT_TM;
 
-	octnet_send_nic_ctrl_pkt(oct, &nctrl);
+	ret = octnet_send_nic_ctrl_pkt(oct, &nctrl);
+	if (ret) {
+		if (ret > 0)
+			ret = -EIO;
+		return ret;
+	}
 
 	oct->sriov_info.vf_vlantci[vfidx] = vlantci;
 
-	return 0;
+	return ret;
 }
 
 static int liquidio_get_vf_config(struct net_device *netdev, int vfidx,
@@ -3063,6 +3081,7 @@ static int liquidio_set_vf_link_state(struct net_device *netdev, int vfidx,
 	struct lio *lio = GET_LIO(netdev);
 	struct octeon_device *oct = lio->oct_dev;
 	struct octnic_ctrl_pkt nctrl;
+	int ret = 0;
 
 	if (vfidx < 0 || vfidx >= oct->sriov_info.num_vfs_alloced)
 		return -EINVAL;
@@ -3078,13 +3097,15 @@ static int liquidio_set_vf_link_state(struct net_device *netdev, int vfidx,
 	nctrl.ncmd.s.more = 0;
 	nctrl.iq_no = lio->linfo.txpciq[0].s.q_no;
 	nctrl.cb_fn = NULL;
-	nctrl.wait_time = LIO_CMD_WAIT_TM;
 
-	octnet_send_nic_ctrl_pkt(oct, &nctrl);
+	ret = octnet_send_nic_ctrl_pkt(oct, &nctrl);
 
-	oct->sriov_info.vf_linkstate[vfidx] = linkstate;
+	if (!ret)
+		oct->sriov_info.vf_linkstate[vfidx] = linkstate;
+	else if (ret > 0)
+		ret = -EIO;
 
-	return 0;
+	return ret;
 }
 
 static int
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_vf_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_vf_main.c
index 59c2dd9..f6bed6e 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_vf_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_vf_main.c
@@ -1119,10 +1119,9 @@ static void liquidio_set_mcast_list(struct net_device *netdev)
 	/* Apparently, any activity in this call from the kernel has to
 	 * be atomic. So we won't wait for response.
 	 */
-	nctrl.wait_time = 0;
 
 	ret = octnet_send_nic_ctrl_pkt(lio->oct_dev, &nctrl);
-	if (ret < 0) {
+	if (ret) {
 		dev_err(&oct->pci_dev->dev, "DEVFLAGS change failed in core (ret: 0x%x)\n",
 			ret);
 	}
@@ -1159,8 +1158,6 @@ static int liquidio_set_mac(struct net_device *netdev, void *p)
 	nctrl.ncmd.s.more = 1;
 	nctrl.iq_no = lio->linfo.txpciq[0].s.q_no;
 	nctrl.netpndev = (u64)netdev;
-	nctrl.cb_fn = liquidio_link_ctrl_cmd_completion;
-	nctrl.wait_time = 100;
 
 	nctrl.udd[0] = 0;
 	/* The MAC Address is presented in network byte order. */
@@ -1171,6 +1168,7 @@ static int liquidio_set_mac(struct net_device *netdev, void *p)
 		dev_err(&oct->pci_dev->dev, "MAC Address change failed\n");
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
+
 	memcpy(netdev->dev_addr, addr->sa_data, netdev->addr_len);
 	ether_addr_copy(((u8 *)&lio->linfo.hw_addr) + 2, addr->sa_data);
 
@@ -1664,8 +1662,6 @@ liquidio_vlan_rx_add_vid(struct net_device *netdev,
 	struct lio *lio = GET_LIO(netdev);
 	struct octeon_device *oct = lio->oct_dev;
 	struct octnic_ctrl_pkt nctrl;
-	struct completion compl;
-	u16 response_code;
 	int ret = 0;
 
 	memset(&nctrl, 0, sizeof(struct octnic_ctrl_pkt));
@@ -1674,26 +1670,15 @@ liquidio_vlan_rx_add_vid(struct net_device *netdev,
 	nctrl.ncmd.s.cmd = OCTNET_CMD_ADD_VLAN_FILTER;
 	nctrl.ncmd.s.param1 = vid;
 	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;
-	init_completion(&compl);
-	nctrl.completion = &compl;
-	nctrl.response_code = &response_code;
 
 	ret = octnet_send_nic_ctrl_pkt(lio->oct_dev, &nctrl);
-	if (ret < 0) {
+	if (ret) {
 		dev_err(&oct->pci_dev->dev, "Add VLAN filter failed in core (ret: 0x%x)\n",
 			ret);
-		return -EIO;
-	}
-
-	if (!wait_for_completion_timeout(&compl,
-					 msecs_to_jiffies(nctrl.wait_time)))
-		return -EPERM;
-
-	if (READ_ONCE(response_code))
 		return -EPERM;
+	}
 
 	return 0;
 }
@@ -1713,14 +1698,15 @@ liquidio_vlan_rx_kill_vid(struct net_device *netdev,
 	nctrl.ncmd.s.cmd = OCTNET_CMD_DEL_VLAN_FILTER;
 	nctrl.ncmd.s.param1 = vid;
 	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) {
+	if (ret) {
 		dev_err(&oct->pci_dev->dev, "Del VLAN filter failed in core (ret: 0x%x)\n",
 			ret);
+		if (ret > 0)
+			ret = -EIO;
 	}
 	return ret;
 }
@@ -1746,14 +1732,15 @@ static int liquidio_set_rxcsum_command(struct net_device *netdev, int command,
 	nctrl.ncmd.s.cmd = command;
 	nctrl.ncmd.s.param1 = rx_cmd;
 	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) {
+	if (ret) {
 		dev_err(&oct->pci_dev->dev, "DEVFLAGS RXCSUM change failed in core (ret:0x%x)\n",
 			ret);
+		if (ret > 0)
+			ret = -EIO;
 	}
 	return ret;
 }
@@ -1781,15 +1768,16 @@ static int liquidio_vxlan_port_command(struct net_device *netdev, int command,
 	nctrl.ncmd.s.more = vxlan_cmd_bit;
 	nctrl.ncmd.s.param1 = vxlan_port;
 	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) {
+	if (ret) {
 		dev_err(&oct->pci_dev->dev,
 			"DEVFLAGS VxLAN port add/delete failed in core (ret : 0x%x)\n",
 			ret);
+		if (ret > 0)
+			ret = -EIO;
 	}
 	return ret;
 }
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/octeon_nic.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/octeon_nic.c
index b7364bb..676fe0b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/octeon_nic.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/octeon_nic.c
@@ -91,29 +91,6 @@ int octnet_send_nic_data_pkt(struct octeon_device *oct,
 				   ndata->reqtype);
 }
 
-static void octnet_link_ctrl_callback(struct octeon_device *oct,
-				      u32 status,
-				      void *sc_ptr)
-{
-	struct octeon_soft_command *sc = (struct octeon_soft_command *)sc_ptr;
-	struct octnic_ctrl_pkt *nctrl;
-
-	nctrl = (struct octnic_ctrl_pkt *)sc->ctxptr;
-
-	/* Call the callback function if status is zero (meaning OK) or status
-	 * contains a firmware status code bigger than zero (meaning the
-	 * firmware is reporting an error).
-	 * If no response was expected, status is OK if the command was posted
-	 * successfully.
-	 */
-	if ((!status || status > FIRMWARE_STATUS_CODE(0)) && nctrl->cb_fn) {
-		nctrl->status = status;
-		nctrl->cb_fn(nctrl);
-	}
-
-	octeon_free_soft_command(oct, sc);
-}
-
 static inline struct octeon_soft_command
 *octnic_alloc_ctrl_pkt_sc(struct octeon_device *oct,
 			  struct octnic_ctrl_pkt *nctrl)
@@ -126,17 +103,14 @@ static inline struct octeon_soft_command
 	uddsize = (u32)(nctrl->ncmd.s.more * 8);
 
 	datasize = OCTNET_CMD_SIZE + uddsize;
-	rdatasize = (nctrl->wait_time) ? 16 : 0;
+	rdatasize = 16;
 
 	sc = (struct octeon_soft_command *)
-		octeon_alloc_soft_command(oct, datasize, rdatasize,
-					  sizeof(struct octnic_ctrl_pkt));
+		octeon_alloc_soft_command(oct, datasize, rdatasize, 0);
 
 	if (!sc)
 		return NULL;
 
-	memcpy(sc->ctxptr, nctrl, sizeof(struct octnic_ctrl_pkt));
-
 	data = (u8 *)sc->virtdptr;
 
 	memcpy(data, &nctrl->ncmd, OCTNET_CMD_SIZE);
@@ -153,9 +127,8 @@ static inline struct octeon_soft_command
 	octeon_prepare_soft_command(oct, sc, OPCODE_NIC, OPCODE_NIC_CMD,
 				    0, 0, 0);
 
-	sc->callback = octnet_link_ctrl_callback;
-	sc->callback_arg = sc;
-	sc->wait_time = nctrl->wait_time;
+	init_completion(&sc->complete);
+	sc->sc_status = OCTEON_REQUEST_PENDING;
 
 	return sc;
 }
@@ -198,5 +171,26 @@ octnet_send_nic_ctrl_pkt(struct octeon_device *oct,
 	}
 
 	spin_unlock_bh(&oct->cmd_resp_wqlock);
+
+	switch (nctrl->ncmd.s.cmd) {
+		/* caller holds lock, can not sleep */
+	case OCTNET_CMD_CHANGE_DEVFLAGS:
+	case OCTNET_CMD_SET_MULTI_LIST:
+	case OCTNET_CMD_SET_UC_LIST:
+		WRITE_ONCE(sc->caller_is_done, true);
+		return retval;
+	}
+
+	retval = wait_for_sc_completion_timeout(oct, sc, 0);
+	if (retval)
+		return (retval);
+
+	nctrl->sc_status = sc->sc_status;
+	retval = nctrl->sc_status;
+	if (nctrl->cb_fn)
+		nctrl->cb_fn(nctrl);
+
+	WRITE_ONCE(sc->caller_is_done, true);
+
 	return retval;
 }
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/octeon_nic.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/octeon_nic.h
index de4130d..87dd6f8 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/octeon_nic.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/octeon_nic.h
@@ -52,20 +52,13 @@ struct octnic_ctrl_pkt {
 	/** Input queue to use to send this command. */
 	u64 iq_no;
 
-	/** Time to wait for Octeon software to respond to this control command.
-	 *  If wait_time is 0, OSI assumes no response is expected.
-	 */
-	size_t wait_time;
-
 	/** The network device that issued the control command. */
 	u64 netpndev;
 
 	/** Callback function called when the command has been fetched */
 	octnic_ctrl_pkt_cb_fn_t cb_fn;
 
-	u32 status;
-	u16 *response_code;
-	struct completion *completion;
+	u32 sc_status;
 };
 
 #define MAX_UDD_SIZE(nctrl) (sizeof((nctrl)->udd))
