diff --git a/drivers/net/i40e/base/i40e_adminq.c b/drivers/net/i40e/base/i40e_adminq.c
index 371a04d53..64b3b50b5 100644
--- a/drivers/net/i40e/base/i40e_adminq.c
+++ b/drivers/net/i40e/base/i40e_adminq.c
@@ -690,8 +690,10 @@ enum i40e_status_code i40e_init_adminq(struct i40e_hw *hw)
 
 	if (aq->api_maj_ver > 1 ||
 	    (aq->api_maj_ver == 1 &&
-	     aq->api_min_ver >= 8))
+	     aq->api_min_ver >= 8)) {
 		hw->flags |= I40E_HW_FLAG_FW_LLDP_PERSISTENT;
+		hw->flags |= I40E_HW_FLAG_DROP_MODE;
+	}
 
 	if (aq->api_maj_ver > 1 ||
 	    (aq->api_maj_ver == 1 &&
diff --git a/drivers/net/i40e/base/i40e_adminq_cmd.h b/drivers/net/i40e/base/i40e_adminq_cmd.h
index 79762d528..1b84ba9c3 100644
--- a/drivers/net/i40e/base/i40e_adminq_cmd.h
+++ b/drivers/net/i40e/base/i40e_adminq_cmd.h
@@ -2102,20 +2102,21 @@ I40E_CHECK_CMD_LENGTH(i40e_aq_set_phy_config);
 struct i40e_aq_set_mac_config {
 	__le16	max_frame_size;
 	u8	params;
-#define I40E_AQ_SET_MAC_CONFIG_CRC_EN		0x04
-#define I40E_AQ_SET_MAC_CONFIG_PACING_MASK	0x78
-#define I40E_AQ_SET_MAC_CONFIG_PACING_SHIFT	3
-#define I40E_AQ_SET_MAC_CONFIG_PACING_NONE	0x0
-#define I40E_AQ_SET_MAC_CONFIG_PACING_1B_13TX	0xF
-#define I40E_AQ_SET_MAC_CONFIG_PACING_1DW_9TX	0x9
-#define I40E_AQ_SET_MAC_CONFIG_PACING_1DW_4TX	0x8
-#define I40E_AQ_SET_MAC_CONFIG_PACING_3DW_7TX	0x7
-#define I40E_AQ_SET_MAC_CONFIG_PACING_2DW_3TX	0x6
-#define I40E_AQ_SET_MAC_CONFIG_PACING_1DW_1TX	0x5
-#define I40E_AQ_SET_MAC_CONFIG_PACING_3DW_2TX	0x4
-#define I40E_AQ_SET_MAC_CONFIG_PACING_7DW_3TX	0x3
-#define I40E_AQ_SET_MAC_CONFIG_PACING_4DW_1TX	0x2
-#define I40E_AQ_SET_MAC_CONFIG_PACING_9DW_1TX	0x1
+#define I40E_AQ_SET_MAC_CONFIG_CRC_EN			0x04
+#define I40E_AQ_SET_MAC_CONFIG_PACING_MASK		0x78
+#define I40E_AQ_SET_MAC_CONFIG_PACING_SHIFT		3
+#define I40E_AQ_SET_MAC_CONFIG_PACING_NONE		0x0
+#define I40E_AQ_SET_MAC_CONFIG_PACING_1B_13TX		0xF
+#define I40E_AQ_SET_MAC_CONFIG_PACING_1DW_9TX		0x9
+#define I40E_AQ_SET_MAC_CONFIG_PACING_1DW_4TX		0x8
+#define I40E_AQ_SET_MAC_CONFIG_PACING_3DW_7TX		0x7
+#define I40E_AQ_SET_MAC_CONFIG_PACING_2DW_3TX		0x6
+#define I40E_AQ_SET_MAC_CONFIG_PACING_1DW_1TX		0x5
+#define I40E_AQ_SET_MAC_CONFIG_PACING_3DW_2TX		0x4
+#define I40E_AQ_SET_MAC_CONFIG_PACING_7DW_3TX		0x3
+#define I40E_AQ_SET_MAC_CONFIG_PACING_4DW_1TX		0x2
+#define I40E_AQ_SET_MAC_CONFIG_PACING_9DW_1TX		0x1
+#define I40E_AQ_SET_MAC_CONFIG_DROP_BLOCKING_PACKET_EN	0x80
 	u8	tx_timer_priority; /* bitmap */
 	__le16	tx_timer_value;
 	__le16	fc_refresh_threshold;
diff --git a/drivers/net/i40e/base/i40e_common.c b/drivers/net/i40e/base/i40e_common.c
index 75bb9148b..b9bc11837 100644
--- a/drivers/net/i40e/base/i40e_common.c
+++ b/drivers/net/i40e/base/i40e_common.c
@@ -1852,6 +1852,7 @@ enum i40e_status_code i40e_set_fc(struct i40e_hw *hw, u8 *aq_failures,
  * @max_frame_size: Maximum Frame Size to be supported by the port
  * @crc_en: Tell HW to append a CRC to outgoing frames
  * @pacing: Pacing configurations
+ * @auto_drop_blocking_packets: Tell HW to drop packets if TC queue is blocked
  * @cmd_details: pointer to command details structure or NULL
  *
  * Configure MAC settings for frame size, jumbo frame support and the
@@ -1860,6 +1861,7 @@ enum i40e_status_code i40e_set_fc(struct i40e_hw *hw, u8 *aq_failures,
 enum i40e_status_code i40e_aq_set_mac_config(struct i40e_hw *hw,
 				u16 max_frame_size,
 				bool crc_en, u16 pacing,
+				bool auto_drop_blocking_packets,
 				struct i40e_asq_cmd_details *cmd_details)
 {
 	struct i40e_aq_desc desc;
@@ -1878,6 +1880,15 @@ enum i40e_status_code i40e_aq_set_mac_config(struct i40e_hw *hw,
 	if (crc_en)
 		cmd->params |= I40E_AQ_SET_MAC_CONFIG_CRC_EN;
 
+	if (auto_drop_blocking_packets) {
+		if (hw->flags & I40E_HW_FLAG_DROP_MODE)
+			cmd->params |=
+				I40E_AQ_SET_MAC_CONFIG_DROP_BLOCKING_PACKET_EN;
+		else
+			i40e_debug(hw, I40E_DEBUG_ALL,
+				   "This FW api version does not support drop mode.\n");
+	}
+
 #define I40E_AQ_SET_MAC_CONFIG_FC_DEFAULT_THRESHOLD	0x7FFF
 	cmd->fc_refresh_threshold =
 		CPU_TO_LE16(I40E_AQ_SET_MAC_CONFIG_FC_DEFAULT_THRESHOLD);
diff --git a/drivers/net/i40e/base/i40e_prototype.h b/drivers/net/i40e/base/i40e_prototype.h
index 043bfd984..b01dff439 100644
--- a/drivers/net/i40e/base/i40e_prototype.h
+++ b/drivers/net/i40e/base/i40e_prototype.h
@@ -114,6 +114,7 @@ enum i40e_status_code i40e_aq_set_phy_int_mask(struct i40e_hw *hw, u16 mask,
 				struct i40e_asq_cmd_details *cmd_details);
 enum i40e_status_code i40e_aq_set_mac_config(struct i40e_hw *hw,
 				u16 max_frame_size, bool crc_en, u16 pacing,
+				bool auto_drop_blocking_packets,
 				struct i40e_asq_cmd_details *cmd_details);
 enum i40e_status_code i40e_aq_get_local_advt_reg(struct i40e_hw *hw,
 				u64 *advt_reg,
diff --git a/drivers/net/i40e/base/i40e_type.h b/drivers/net/i40e/base/i40e_type.h
index 673469929..3ac1cf6e1 100644
--- a/drivers/net/i40e/base/i40e_type.h
+++ b/drivers/net/i40e/base/i40e_type.h
@@ -744,6 +744,7 @@ struct i40e_hw {
 #define I40E_HW_FLAG_FW_LLDP_STOPPABLE	    BIT_ULL(4)
 #define I40E_HW_FLAG_FW_LLDP_PERSISTENT     BIT_ULL(5)
 #define I40E_HW_FLAG_AQ_PHY_ACCESS_EXTENDED BIT_ULL(6)
+#define I40E_HW_FLAG_DROP_MODE		    BIT_ULL(7)
 	u64 flags;
 
 	/* Used in set switch config AQ command */
diff --git a/drivers/net/i40e/i40e_ethdev.c b/drivers/net/i40e/i40e_ethdev.c
index 208a9a112..4d06788de 100644
--- a/drivers/net/i40e/i40e_ethdev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/i40e/i40e_ethdev.c
@@ -1649,7 +1649,7 @@ eth_i40e_dev_init(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, void *init_params __rte_unused)
 	/* Set the max frame size to 0x2600 by default,
 	 * in case other drivers changed the default value.
 	 */
-	i40e_aq_set_mac_config(hw, I40E_FRAME_SIZE_MAX, TRUE, 0, NULL);
+	i40e_aq_set_mac_config(hw, I40E_FRAME_SIZE_MAX, TRUE, 0, false, NULL);
 
 	/* initialize mirror rule list */
 	TAILQ_INIT(&pf->mirror_list);
