return -ENOMEM;
 
        memset((void *)pmboxq, 0, sizeof (LPFC_MBOXQ_t));
-       lpfc_init_link(phba, pmboxq, phba->cfg_topology, phba->cfg_link_speed);
+       pmboxq->mb.mbxCommand = MBX_DOWN_LINK;
+       pmboxq->mb.mbxOwner = OWN_HOST;
+
        mbxstatus = lpfc_sli_issue_mbox_wait(phba, pmboxq, phba->fc_ratov * 2);
 
+       if ((mbxstatus == MBX_SUCCESS) && (pmboxq->mb.mbxStatus == 0)) {
+               memset((void *)pmboxq, 0, sizeof (LPFC_MBOXQ_t));
+               lpfc_init_link(phba, pmboxq, phba->cfg_topology,
+                              phba->cfg_link_speed);
+               mbxstatus = lpfc_sli_issue_mbox_wait(phba, pmboxq,
+                                                    phba->fc_ratov * 2);
+       }
+
        if (mbxstatus == MBX_TIMEOUT)
                pmboxq->mbox_cmpl = lpfc_sli_def_mbox_cmpl;
        else