diff --git a/drivers/net/sfc/efx.c b/drivers/net/sfc/efx.c
index 7214ea6f7e1d..ce1c7d3cd12e 100644
--- a/drivers/net/sfc/efx.c
+++ b/drivers/net/sfc/efx.c
@@ -612,10 +612,9 @@ void efx_reconfigure_port(struct efx_nic *efx)
 /* Asynchronous efx_reconfigure_port work item. To speed up efx_flush_all()
  * we don't efx_reconfigure_port() if the port is disabled. Care is taken
  * in efx_stop_all() and efx_start_port() to prevent PHY events being lost */
-static void efx_reconfigure_work(struct work_struct *data)
+static void efx_phy_work(struct work_struct *data)
 {
-	struct efx_nic *efx = container_of(data, struct efx_nic,
-					   reconfigure_work);
+	struct efx_nic *efx = container_of(data, struct efx_nic, phy_work);
 
 	mutex_lock(&efx->mac_lock);
 	if (efx->port_enabled)
@@ -623,6 +622,16 @@ static void efx_reconfigure_work(struct work_struct *data)
 	mutex_unlock(&efx->mac_lock);
 }
 
+static void efx_mac_work(struct work_struct *data)
+{
+	struct efx_nic *efx = container_of(data, struct efx_nic, mac_work);
+
+	mutex_lock(&efx->mac_lock);
+	if (efx->port_enabled)
+		efx->mac_op->irq(efx);
+	mutex_unlock(&efx->mac_lock);
+}
+
 static int efx_probe_port(struct efx_nic *efx)
 {
 	int rc;
@@ -688,7 +697,7 @@ static int efx_init_port(struct efx_nic *efx)
 
 /* Allow efx_reconfigure_port() to be scheduled, and close the window
  * between efx_stop_port and efx_flush_all whereby a previously scheduled
- * efx_reconfigure_port() may have been cancelled */
+ * efx_phy_work()/efx_mac_work() may have been cancelled */
 static void efx_start_port(struct efx_nic *efx)
 {
 	EFX_LOG(efx, "start port\n");
@@ -697,13 +706,14 @@ static void efx_start_port(struct efx_nic *efx)
 	mutex_lock(&efx->mac_lock);
 	efx->port_enabled = true;
 	__efx_reconfigure_port(efx);
+	efx->mac_op->irq(efx);
 	mutex_unlock(&efx->mac_lock);
 }
 
-/* Prevent efx_reconfigure_work and efx_monitor() from executing, and
- * efx_set_multicast_list() from scheduling efx_reconfigure_work.
- * efx_reconfigure_work can still be scheduled via NAPI processing
- * until efx_flush_all() is called */
+/* Prevent efx_phy_work, efx_mac_work, and efx_monitor() from executing,
+ * and efx_set_multicast_list() from scheduling efx_phy_work. efx_phy_work
+ * and efx_mac_work may still be scheduled via NAPI processing until
+ * efx_flush_all() is called */
 static void efx_stop_port(struct efx_nic *efx)
 {
 	EFX_LOG(efx, "stop port\n");
@@ -1094,7 +1104,8 @@ static void efx_flush_all(struct efx_nic *efx)
 		cancel_delayed_work_sync(&rx_queue->work);
 
 	/* Stop scheduled port reconfigurations */
-	cancel_work_sync(&efx->reconfigure_work);
+	cancel_work_sync(&efx->mac_work);
+	cancel_work_sync(&efx->phy_work);
 
 }
 
@@ -1131,7 +1142,7 @@ static void efx_stop_all(struct efx_nic *efx)
 	 * window to loose phy events */
 	efx_stop_port(efx);
 
-	/* Flush reconfigure_work, refill_workqueue, monitor_work */
+	/* Flush efx_phy_work, efx_mac_work, refill_workqueue, monitor_work */
 	efx_flush_all(efx);
 
 	/* Isolate the MAC from the TX and RX engines, so that queue
@@ -1203,24 +1214,31 @@ static void efx_monitor(struct work_struct *data)
 {
 	struct efx_nic *efx = container_of(data, struct efx_nic,
 					   monitor_work.work);
+	int rc;
 
 	EFX_TRACE(efx, "hardware monitor executing on CPU %d\n",
 		  raw_smp_processor_id());
 
-
 	/* If the mac_lock is already held then it is likely a port
 	 * reconfiguration is already in place, which will likely do
 	 * most of the work of check_hw() anyway. */
-	if (!mutex_trylock(&efx->mac_lock)) {
-		queue_delayed_work(efx->workqueue, &efx->monitor_work,
-				   efx_monitor_interval);
-		return;
+	if (!mutex_trylock(&efx->mac_lock))
+		goto out_requeue;
+	if (!efx->port_enabled)
+		goto out_unlock;
+	rc = efx->board_info.monitor(efx);
+	if (rc) {
+		EFX_ERR(efx, "Board sensor %s; shutting down PHY\n",
+			(rc == -ERANGE) ? "reported fault" : "failed");
+		efx->phy_mode |= PHY_MODE_LOW_POWER;
+		falcon_sim_phy_event(efx);
 	}
+	efx->phy_op->poll(efx);
+	efx->mac_op->poll(efx);
 
-	if (efx->port_enabled)
-		efx->mac_op->check_hw(efx);
+out_unlock:
 	mutex_unlock(&efx->mac_lock);
-
+out_requeue:
 	queue_delayed_work(efx->workqueue, &efx->monitor_work,
 			   efx_monitor_interval);
 }
@@ -1477,7 +1495,7 @@ static void efx_set_multicast_list(struct net_device *net_dev)
 		return;
 
 	if (changed)
-		queue_work(efx->workqueue, &efx->reconfigure_work);
+		queue_work(efx->workqueue, &efx->phy_work);
 
 	/* Create and activate new global multicast hash table */
 	falcon_set_multicast_hash(efx);
@@ -1800,12 +1818,14 @@ void efx_port_dummy_op_blink(struct efx_nic *efx, bool blink) {}
 
 static struct efx_mac_operations efx_dummy_mac_operations = {
 	.reconfigure	= efx_port_dummy_op_void,
+	.poll		= efx_port_dummy_op_void,
+	.irq		= efx_port_dummy_op_void,
 };
 
 static struct efx_phy_operations efx_dummy_phy_operations = {
 	.init		 = efx_port_dummy_op_int,
 	.reconfigure	 = efx_port_dummy_op_void,
-	.check_hw        = efx_port_dummy_op_int,
+	.poll		 = efx_port_dummy_op_void,
 	.fini		 = efx_port_dummy_op_void,
 	.clear_interrupt = efx_port_dummy_op_void,
 };
@@ -1857,7 +1877,8 @@ static int efx_init_struct(struct efx_nic *efx, struct efx_nic_type *type,
 	efx->mac_op = &efx_dummy_mac_operations;
 	efx->phy_op = &efx_dummy_phy_operations;
 	efx->mii.dev = net_dev;
-	INIT_WORK(&efx->reconfigure_work, efx_reconfigure_work);
+	INIT_WORK(&efx->phy_work, efx_phy_work);
+	INIT_WORK(&efx->mac_work, efx_mac_work);
 	atomic_set(&efx->netif_stop_count, 1);
 
 	for (i = 0; i < EFX_MAX_CHANNELS; i++) {
diff --git a/drivers/net/sfc/falcon.c b/drivers/net/sfc/falcon.c
index fde4e7912c39..5a70ee7e8142 100644
--- a/drivers/net/sfc/falcon.c
+++ b/drivers/net/sfc/falcon.c
@@ -910,22 +910,20 @@ static void falcon_handle_global_event(struct efx_channel *channel,
 				       efx_qword_t *event)
 {
 	struct efx_nic *efx = channel->efx;
-	bool is_phy_event = false, handled = false;
+	bool handled = false;
 
-	/* Check for interrupt on either port.  Some boards have a
-	 * single PHY wired to the interrupt line for port 1. */
 	if (EFX_QWORD_FIELD(*event, G_PHY0_INTR) ||
 	    EFX_QWORD_FIELD(*event, G_PHY1_INTR) ||
-	    EFX_QWORD_FIELD(*event, XG_PHY_INTR))
-		is_phy_event = true;
+	    EFX_QWORD_FIELD(*event, XG_PHY_INTR) ||
+	    EFX_QWORD_FIELD(*event, XFP_PHY_INTR)) {
+		efx->phy_op->clear_interrupt(efx);
+		queue_work(efx->workqueue, &efx->phy_work);
+		handled = true;
+	}
 
 	if ((falcon_rev(efx) >= FALCON_REV_B0) &&
-	    EFX_QWORD_FIELD(*event, XG_MNT_INTR_B0))
-		is_phy_event = true;
-
-	if (is_phy_event) {
-		efx->phy_op->clear_interrupt(efx);
-		queue_work(efx->workqueue, &efx->reconfigure_work);
+	    EFX_QWORD_FIELD(*event, XG_MNT_INTR_B0)) {
+		queue_work(efx->workqueue, &efx->mac_work);
 		handled = true;
 	}
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/sfc/falcon_gmac.c b/drivers/net/sfc/falcon_gmac.c
index b6e6eb963905..8865eae20ac5 100644
--- a/drivers/net/sfc/falcon_gmac.c
+++ b/drivers/net/sfc/falcon_gmac.c
@@ -221,13 +221,9 @@ static void falcon_update_stats_gmac(struct efx_nic *efx)
 	mac_stats->rx_lt64 = mac_stats->rx_good_lt64 + mac_stats->rx_bad_lt64;
 }
 
-static int falcon_check_gmac(struct efx_nic *efx)
-{
-	return efx->phy_op->check_hw(efx);
-}
-
 struct efx_mac_operations falcon_gmac_operations = {
 	.reconfigure	= falcon_reconfigure_gmac,
 	.update_stats	= falcon_update_stats_gmac,
-	.check_hw	= falcon_check_gmac,
+	.irq		= efx_port_dummy_op_void,
+	.poll		= efx_port_dummy_op_void,
 };
diff --git a/drivers/net/sfc/falcon_hwdefs.h b/drivers/net/sfc/falcon_hwdefs.h
index 5553df888b84..a58c627f51aa 100644
--- a/drivers/net/sfc/falcon_hwdefs.h
+++ b/drivers/net/sfc/falcon_hwdefs.h
@@ -1051,6 +1051,8 @@
 #define XG_MNT_INTR_B0_WIDTH 1
 #define RX_RECOVERY_A1_LBN 11
 #define RX_RECOVERY_A1_WIDTH 1
+#define XFP_PHY_INTR_LBN 10
+#define XFP_PHY_INTR_WIDTH 1
 #define XG_PHY_INTR_LBN 9
 #define XG_PHY_INTR_WIDTH 1
 #define G_PHY1_INTR_LBN 8
diff --git a/drivers/net/sfc/falcon_xmac.c b/drivers/net/sfc/falcon_xmac.c
index 0ce8f015386c..5a03713685ac 100644
--- a/drivers/net/sfc/falcon_xmac.c
+++ b/drivers/net/sfc/falcon_xmac.c
@@ -342,33 +342,35 @@ static void falcon_update_stats_xmac(struct efx_nic *efx)
 		 mac_stats->rx_control * 64);
 }
 
-static int falcon_check_xmac(struct efx_nic *efx)
+static void falcon_xmac_irq(struct efx_nic *efx)
 {
-	bool xaui_link_ok;
-	int rc;
+	/* The XGMII link has a transient fault, which indicates either:
+	 *   - there's a transient xgmii fault
+	 *   - falcon's end of the xaui link may need a kick
+	 *   - the wire-side link may have gone down, but the lasi/poll()
+	 *     hasn't noticed yet.
+	 *
+	 * We only want to even bother polling XAUI if we're confident it's
+	 * not (1) or (3). In both cases, the only reliable way to spot this
+	 * is to wait a bit. We do this here by forcing the mac link state
+	 * to down, and waiting for the mac poll to come round and check
+	 */
+	efx->mac_up = false;
+}
 
-	if ((efx->loopback_mode == LOOPBACK_NETWORK) ||
-	    efx_phy_mode_disabled(efx->phy_mode))
-		return 0;
+static void falcon_poll_xmac(struct efx_nic *efx)
+{
+	if (!EFX_WORKAROUND_5147(efx) || !efx->link_up || efx->mac_up)
+		return;
 
 	falcon_mask_status_intr(efx, false);
-	xaui_link_ok = falcon_xaui_link_ok(efx);
-
-	if (EFX_WORKAROUND_5147(efx) && !xaui_link_ok)
-		falcon_reset_xaui(efx);
-
-	/* Call the PHY check_hw routine */
-	rc = efx->phy_op->check_hw(efx);
-
-	/* Unmask interrupt if everything was (and still is) ok */
-	if (xaui_link_ok && efx->link_up)
-		falcon_mask_status_intr(efx, true);
-
-	return rc;
+	falcon_check_xaui_link_up(efx, 1);
+	falcon_mask_status_intr(efx, true);
 }
 
 struct efx_mac_operations falcon_xmac_operations = {
 	.reconfigure	= falcon_reconfigure_xmac,
 	.update_stats	= falcon_update_stats_xmac,
-	.check_hw	= falcon_check_xmac,
+	.irq		= falcon_xmac_irq,
+	.poll		= falcon_poll_xmac,
 };
diff --git a/drivers/net/sfc/net_driver.h b/drivers/net/sfc/net_driver.h
index fb8d72527a34..61d09a2fa724 100644
--- a/drivers/net/sfc/net_driver.h
+++ b/drivers/net/sfc/net_driver.h
@@ -544,12 +544,14 @@ static inline enum efx_fc_type efx_fc_resolve(enum efx_fc_type wanted_fc,
  * struct efx_mac_operations - Efx MAC operations table
  * @reconfigure: Reconfigure MAC. Serialised by the mac_lock
  * @update_stats: Update statistics
- * @check_hw: Check hardware. Serialised by the mac_lock
+ * @irq: Hardware MAC event callback. Serialised by the mac_lock
+ * @poll: Poll for hardware state. Serialised by the mac_lock
  */
 struct efx_mac_operations {
 	void (*reconfigure) (struct efx_nic *efx);
 	void (*update_stats) (struct efx_nic *efx);
-	int (*check_hw) (struct efx_nic *efx);
+	void (*irq) (struct efx_nic *efx);
+	void (*poll) (struct efx_nic *efx);
 };
 
 /**
@@ -559,7 +561,7 @@ struct efx_mac_operations {
  * @reconfigure: Reconfigure PHY (e.g. for new link parameters)
  * @clear_interrupt: Clear down interrupt
  * @blink: Blink LEDs
- * @check_hw: Check hardware
+ * @poll: Poll for hardware state. Serialised by the mac_lock.
  * @get_settings: Get ethtool settings. Serialised by the mac_lock.
  * @set_settings: Set ethtool settings. Serialised by the mac_lock.
  * @set_xnp_advertise: Set abilities advertised in Extended Next Page
@@ -573,7 +575,7 @@ struct efx_phy_operations {
 	void (*fini) (struct efx_nic *efx);
 	void (*reconfigure) (struct efx_nic *efx);
 	void (*clear_interrupt) (struct efx_nic *efx);
-	int (*check_hw) (struct efx_nic *efx);
+	void (*poll) (struct efx_nic *efx);
 	int (*test) (struct efx_nic *efx);
 	void (*get_settings) (struct efx_nic *efx,
 			      struct ethtool_cmd *ecmd);
@@ -728,10 +730,10 @@ union efx_multicast_hash {
  * @mac_lock: MAC access lock. Protects @port_enabled, @phy_mode,
  *	@port_inhibited, efx_monitor() and efx_reconfigure_port()
  * @port_enabled: Port enabled indicator.
- *	Serialises efx_stop_all(), efx_start_all() and efx_monitor() and
- *	efx_reconfigure_work with kernel interfaces. Safe to read under any
- *	one of the rtnl_lock, mac_lock, or netif_tx_lock, but all three must
- *	be held to modify it.
+ *	Serialises efx_stop_all(), efx_start_all(), efx_monitor(),
+ *	efx_phy_work(), and efx_mac_work() with kernel interfaces. Safe to read
+ *	under any one of the rtnl_lock, mac_lock, or netif_tx_lock, but all
+ *	three must be held to modify it.
  * @port_inhibited: If set, the netif_carrier is always off. Hold the mac_lock
  * @port_initialized: Port initialized?
  * @net_dev: Operating system network device. Consider holding the rtnl lock
@@ -762,7 +764,8 @@ union efx_multicast_hash {
  * @promiscuous: Promiscuous flag. Protected by netif_tx_lock.
  * @multicast_hash: Multicast hash table
  * @wanted_fc: Wanted flow control flags
- * @reconfigure_work: work item for dealing with PHY events
+ * @phy_work: work item for dealing with PHY events
+ * @mac_work: work item for dealing with MAC events
  * @loopback_mode: Loopback status
  * @loopback_modes: Supported loopback mode bitmask
  * @loopback_selftest: Offline self-test private state
@@ -810,6 +813,7 @@ struct efx_nic {
 	struct falcon_nic_data *nic_data;
 
 	struct mutex mac_lock;
+	struct work_struct mac_work;
 	bool port_enabled;
 	bool port_inhibited;
 
@@ -830,6 +834,7 @@ struct efx_nic {
 
 	enum phy_type phy_type;
 	spinlock_t phy_lock;
+	struct work_struct phy_work;
 	struct efx_phy_operations *phy_op;
 	void *phy_data;
 	struct mii_if_info mii;
@@ -845,7 +850,6 @@ struct efx_nic {
 	bool promiscuous;
 	union efx_multicast_hash multicast_hash;
 	enum efx_fc_type wanted_fc;
-	struct work_struct reconfigure_work;
 
 	atomic_t rx_reset;
 	enum efx_loopback_mode loopback_mode;
diff --git a/drivers/net/sfc/selftest.c b/drivers/net/sfc/selftest.c
index 8142e37a518f..578b7f410ed4 100644
--- a/drivers/net/sfc/selftest.c
+++ b/drivers/net/sfc/selftest.c
@@ -594,12 +594,14 @@ static int efx_test_loopbacks(struct efx_nic *efx, struct ethtool_cmd ecmd,
 		efx->loopback_mode = mode;
 		efx_reconfigure_port(efx);
 
-		/* Wait for the PHY to signal the link is up */
+		/* Wait for the PHY to signal the link is up. Interrupts
+		 * are enabled for PHY's using LASI, otherwise we poll()
+		 * quickly */
 		count = 0;
 		do {
 			struct efx_channel *channel = &efx->channel[0];
 
-			efx->mac_op->check_hw(efx);
+			efx->phy_op->poll(efx);
 			schedule_timeout_uninterruptible(HZ / 10);
 			if (channel->work_pending)
 				efx_process_channel_now(channel);
diff --git a/drivers/net/sfc/tenxpress.c b/drivers/net/sfc/tenxpress.c
index 634ff9198823..7256ea4abf9c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/sfc/tenxpress.c
+++ b/drivers/net/sfc/tenxpress.c
@@ -348,50 +348,34 @@ static void tenxpress_phy_reconfigure(struct efx_nic *efx)
 	efx->link_fc = mdio_clause45_get_pause(efx);
 }
 
-static void tenxpress_phy_clear_interrupt(struct efx_nic *efx)
-{
-	/* Nothing done here - LASI interrupts aren't reliable so poll  */
-}
-
-
 /* Poll PHY for interrupt */
-static int tenxpress_phy_check_hw(struct efx_nic *efx)
+static void tenxpress_phy_poll(struct efx_nic *efx)
 {
 	struct tenxpress_phy_data *phy_data = efx->phy_data;
-	bool link_ok;
-	int rc = 0;
+	bool change = false, link_ok;
+	unsigned link_fc;
 
 	link_ok = tenxpress_link_ok(efx);
+	if (link_ok != efx->link_up) {
+		change = true;
+	} else {
+		link_fc = mdio_clause45_get_pause(efx);
+		if (link_fc != efx->link_fc)
+			change = true;
+	}
 	tenxpress_check_bad_lp(efx, link_ok);
 
-	if (link_ok != efx->link_up)
+	if (change)
 		falcon_sim_phy_event(efx);
 
 	if (phy_data->phy_mode != PHY_MODE_NORMAL)
-		return 0;
+		return;
 
 	if (atomic_read(&phy_data->bad_crc_count) > crc_error_reset_threshold) {
 		EFX_ERR(efx, "Resetting XAUI due to too many CRC errors\n");
 		falcon_reset_xaui(efx);
 		atomic_set(&phy_data->bad_crc_count, 0);
 	}
-
-	rc = efx->board_info.monitor(efx);
-	if (rc) {
-		EFX_ERR(efx, "Board sensor %s; shutting down PHY\n",
-			(rc == -ERANGE) ? "reported fault" : "failed");
-		if (efx->phy_mode & PHY_MODE_OFF) {
-			/* Assume that board has shut PHY off */
-			phy_data->phy_mode = PHY_MODE_OFF;
-		} else {
-			efx->phy_mode |= PHY_MODE_LOW_POWER;
-			mdio_clause45_set_mmds_lpower(efx, true,
-						      efx->phy_op->mmds);
-			phy_data->phy_mode |= PHY_MODE_LOW_POWER;
-		}
-	}
-
-	return rc;
 }
 
 static void tenxpress_phy_fini(struct efx_nic *efx)
@@ -461,9 +445,9 @@ struct efx_phy_operations falcon_tenxpress_phy_ops = {
 	.macs		  = EFX_XMAC,
 	.init             = tenxpress_phy_init,
 	.reconfigure      = tenxpress_phy_reconfigure,
-	.check_hw         = tenxpress_phy_check_hw,
+	.poll             = tenxpress_phy_poll,
 	.fini             = tenxpress_phy_fini,
-	.clear_interrupt  = tenxpress_phy_clear_interrupt,
+	.clear_interrupt  = efx_port_dummy_op_void,
 	.test             = tenxpress_phy_test,
 	.get_settings	  = tenxpress_get_settings,
 	.set_settings	  = mdio_clause45_set_settings,
diff --git a/drivers/net/sfc/xfp_phy.c b/drivers/net/sfc/xfp_phy.c
index fbe8e25a1ed5..345ffc310dca 100644
--- a/drivers/net/sfc/xfp_phy.c
+++ b/drivers/net/sfc/xfp_phy.c
@@ -119,24 +119,12 @@ static int xfp_link_ok(struct efx_nic *efx)
 	return mdio_clause45_links_ok(efx, XFP_REQUIRED_DEVS);
 }
 
-static int xfp_phy_check_hw(struct efx_nic *efx)
+static void xfp_phy_poll(struct efx_nic *efx)
 {
-	int rc = 0;
 	int link_up = xfp_link_ok(efx);
 	/* Simulate a PHY event if link state has changed */
 	if (link_up != efx->link_up)
 		falcon_sim_phy_event(efx);
-
-	rc = efx->board_info.monitor(efx);
-	if (rc) {
-		struct xfp_phy_data *phy_data = efx->phy_data;
-		EFX_ERR(efx, "XFP sensor alert; putting PHY into low power\n");
-		efx->phy_mode |= PHY_MODE_LOW_POWER;
-		mdio_clause45_set_mmds_lpower(efx, 1, XFP_REQUIRED_DEVS);
-		phy_data->phy_mode |= PHY_MODE_LOW_POWER;
-	}
-
-	return rc;
 }
 
 static void xfp_phy_reconfigure(struct efx_nic *efx)
@@ -173,7 +161,7 @@ struct efx_phy_operations falcon_xfp_phy_ops = {
 	.macs		 = EFX_XMAC,
 	.init            = xfp_phy_init,
 	.reconfigure     = xfp_phy_reconfigure,
-	.check_hw        = xfp_phy_check_hw,
+	.poll            = xfp_phy_poll,
 	.fini            = xfp_phy_fini,
 	.clear_interrupt = xfp_phy_clear_interrupt,
 	.get_settings    = mdio_clause45_get_settings,