diff --git a/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt.h b/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt.h
index f4b2a3f92..74e2c9a70 100644
--- a/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt.h
+++ b/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt.h
@@ -147,6 +147,23 @@
 #define BNXT_CMPL_AGGR_DMA_TMR_DURING_INT	50
 #define BNXT_NUM_CMPL_DMA_AGGR_DURING_INT	12
 
+#define	BNXT_DEFAULT_VNIC_STATE_MASK			\
+	HWRM_ASYNC_EVENT_CMPL_DEFAULT_VNIC_CHANGE_EVENT_DATA1_DEF_VNIC_STATE_MASK
+#define	BNXT_DEFAULT_VNIC_STATE_SFT			\
+	HWRM_ASYNC_EVENT_CMPL_DEFAULT_VNIC_CHANGE_EVENT_DATA1_DEF_VNIC_STATE_SFT
+#define	BNXT_DEFAULT_VNIC_ALLOC				\
+	HWRM_ASYNC_EVENT_CMPL_DEFAULT_VNIC_CHANGE_EVENT_DATA1_DEF_VNIC_STATE_DEF_VNIC_ALLOC
+#define	BNXT_DEFAULT_VNIC_FREE				\
+	HWRM_ASYNC_EVENT_CMPL_DEFAULT_VNIC_CHANGE_EVENT_DATA1_DEF_VNIC_STATE_DEF_VNIC_FREE
+#define	BNXT_DEFAULT_VNIC_CHANGE_PF_ID_MASK		\
+	HWRM_ASYNC_EVENT_CMPL_DEFAULT_VNIC_CHANGE_EVENT_DATA1_PF_ID_MASK
+#define	BNXT_DEFAULT_VNIC_CHANGE_PF_ID_SFT		\
+	HWRM_ASYNC_EVENT_CMPL_DEFAULT_VNIC_CHANGE_EVENT_DATA1_PF_ID_SFT
+#define	BNXT_DEFAULT_VNIC_CHANGE_VF_ID_MASK		\
+	HWRM_ASYNC_EVENT_CMPL_DEFAULT_VNIC_CHANGE_EVENT_DATA1_VF_ID_MASK
+#define	BNXT_DEFAULT_VNIC_CHANGE_VF_ID_SFT		\
+	HWRM_ASYNC_EVENT_CMPL_DEFAULT_VNIC_CHANGE_EVENT_DATA1_VF_ID_SFT
+
 struct bnxt_led_info {
 	uint8_t	     num_leds;
 	uint8_t      led_id;
@@ -498,6 +515,8 @@ struct bnxt_mark_info {
 struct bnxt_rep_info {
 	struct rte_eth_dev	*vfr_eth_dev;
 	pthread_mutex_t		vfr_lock;
+	pthread_mutex_t		vfr_start_lock;
+	bool			conduit_valid;
 };
 
 /* address space location of register */
@@ -796,6 +815,7 @@ struct bnxt_vf_representor {
 	uint16_t		switch_domain_id;
 	uint16_t		vf_id;
 	uint16_t		fw_fid;
+#define	BNXT_DFLT_VNIC_ID_INVALID	0xFFFF
 	uint16_t		dflt_vnic_id;
 	uint16_t		svif;
 	uint16_t		vfr_tx_cfa_action;
@@ -884,6 +904,7 @@ uint16_t bnxt_get_phy_port_id(uint16_t port);
 uint16_t bnxt_get_vport(uint16_t port);
 enum bnxt_ulp_intf_type
 bnxt_get_interface_type(uint16_t port);
+int bnxt_vf_rep_dev_start_op(struct rte_eth_dev *eth_dev);
 
 void bnxt_cancel_fc_thread(struct bnxt *bp);
 void bnxt_flow_cnt_alarm_cb(void *arg);
diff --git a/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_cpr.c b/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_cpr.c
index 40e5350f6..464ca8b6f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_cpr.c
+++ b/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_cpr.c
@@ -46,6 +46,54 @@ void bnxt_wait_for_device_shutdown(struct bnxt *bp)
 	} while (timeout);
 }
 
+static void
+bnxt_process_default_vnic_change(struct bnxt *bp,
+				 struct hwrm_async_event_cmpl *async_cmp)
+{
+	uint16_t fid, vnic_state, parent_id, vf_fid, vf_id;
+	struct bnxt_vf_representor *vf_rep_bp;
+	struct rte_eth_dev *eth_dev;
+	bool vfr_found = false;
+	uint32_t event_data;
+
+	if (!BNXT_TRUFLOW_EN(bp))
+		return;
+
+	PMD_DRV_LOG(INFO, "Default vnic change async event received\n");
+	event_data = rte_le_to_cpu_32(async_cmp->event_data1);
+
+	vnic_state = (event_data & BNXT_DEFAULT_VNIC_STATE_MASK) >>
+			BNXT_DEFAULT_VNIC_STATE_SFT;
+	if (vnic_state != BNXT_DEFAULT_VNIC_ALLOC)
+		return;
+
+	parent_id = (event_data & BNXT_DEFAULT_VNIC_CHANGE_PF_ID_MASK) >>
+			BNXT_DEFAULT_VNIC_CHANGE_PF_ID_SFT;
+	fid = BNXT_PF(bp) ? bp->fw_fid : bp->parent->fid;
+	if (parent_id != fid || !bp->rep_info)
+		return;
+
+	vf_fid = (event_data & BNXT_DEFAULT_VNIC_CHANGE_VF_ID_MASK) >>
+			BNXT_DEFAULT_VNIC_CHANGE_VF_ID_SFT;
+	PMD_DRV_LOG(INFO, "async event received vf_id 0x%x\n", vf_fid);
+
+	for (vf_id = 0; vf_id < BNXT_MAX_VF_REPS; vf_id++) {
+		eth_dev = bp->rep_info[vf_id].vfr_eth_dev;
+		if (!eth_dev)
+			continue;
+		vf_rep_bp = eth_dev->data->dev_private;
+		if (vf_rep_bp &&
+		    vf_rep_bp->fw_fid == vf_fid) {
+			vfr_found = true;
+			break;
+		}
+	}
+	if (!vfr_found)
+		return;
+
+	bnxt_vf_rep_dev_start_op(eth_dev);
+}
+
 /*
  * Async event handling
  */
@@ -144,6 +192,9 @@ void bnxt_handle_async_event(struct bnxt *bp,
 			    rte_le_to_cpu_32(async_cmp->event_data1),
 			    rte_le_to_cpu_32(async_cmp->event_data2));
 		break;
+	case HWRM_ASYNC_EVENT_CMPL_EVENT_ID_DEFAULT_VNIC_CHANGE:
+		bnxt_process_default_vnic_change(bp, async_cmp);
+		break;
 	default:
 		PMD_DRV_LOG(DEBUG, "handle_async_event id = 0x%x\n", event_id);
 		break;
diff --git a/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_ethdev.c b/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_ethdev.c
index e64c147be..40023a454 100644
--- a/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_ethdev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_ethdev.c
@@ -5832,8 +5832,10 @@ bnxt_uninit_locks(struct bnxt *bp)
 {
 	pthread_mutex_destroy(&bp->flow_lock);
 	pthread_mutex_destroy(&bp->def_cp_lock);
-	if (bp->rep_info)
+	if (bp->rep_info) {
 		pthread_mutex_destroy(&bp->rep_info->vfr_lock);
+		pthread_mutex_destroy(&bp->rep_info->vfr_start_lock);
+	}
 }
 
 static int
@@ -5936,6 +5938,14 @@ static int bnxt_init_rep_info(struct bnxt *bp)
 		bnxt_free_rep_info(bp);
 		return rc;
 	}
+
+	rc = pthread_mutex_init(&bp->rep_info->vfr_start_lock, NULL);
+	if (rc) {
+		PMD_DRV_LOG(ERR, "Unable to initialize vfr_start_lock\n");
+		bnxt_free_rep_info(bp);
+		return rc;
+	}
+
 	return rc;
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_hwrm.c b/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_hwrm.c
index 43e3e2753..f534f2015 100644
--- a/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_hwrm.c
+++ b/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_hwrm.c
@@ -936,6 +936,10 @@ int bnxt_hwrm_func_driver_register(struct bnxt *bp)
 		req.async_event_fwd[1] |=
 			rte_cpu_to_le_32(ASYNC_CMPL_EVENT_ID_DBG_NOTIFICATION);
 
+	if (BNXT_VF_IS_TRUSTED(bp))
+		req.async_event_fwd[1] |=
+		rte_cpu_to_le_32(ASYNC_CMPL_EVENT_ID_DEFAULT_VNIC_CHANGE);
+
 	rc = bnxt_hwrm_send_message(bp, &req, sizeof(req), BNXT_USE_CHIMP_MB);
 
 	HWRM_CHECK_RESULT();
diff --git a/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_hwrm.h b/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_hwrm.h
index eaabe1ffc..b5ec23abf 100644
--- a/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_hwrm.h
+++ b/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_hwrm.h
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ struct hwrm_func_qstats_output;
 	(1 << (HWRM_ASYNC_EVENT_CMPL_EVENT_ID_VF_CFG_CHANGE - 32))
 #define ASYNC_CMPL_EVENT_ID_DBG_NOTIFICATION	\
 	(1 << (HWRM_ASYNC_EVENT_CMPL_EVENT_ID_DEBUG_NOTIFICATION - 32))
+#define	ASYNC_CMPL_EVENT_ID_DEFAULT_VNIC_CHANGE	\
+	(1 << (HWRM_ASYNC_EVENT_CMPL_EVENT_ID_DEFAULT_VNIC_CHANGE - 32))
 
 #define HWRM_QUEUE_SERVICE_PROFILE_LOSSY \
 	HWRM_QUEUE_QPORTCFG_OUTPUT_QUEUE_ID0_SERVICE_PROFILE_LOSSY
diff --git a/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_reps.c b/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_reps.c
index 2941aff7b..a1b2c4bf9 100644
--- a/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_reps.c
+++ b/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_reps.c
@@ -135,6 +135,32 @@ bnxt_vf_rep_tx_burst(void *tx_queue,
 	return rc;
 }
 
+static int
+bnxt_get_dflt_vnic_svif(struct bnxt *bp, struct bnxt_vf_representor *vf_rep_bp)
+{
+	struct bnxt_rep_info *rep_info;
+	int rc;
+
+	rc = bnxt_hwrm_get_dflt_vnic_svif(bp, vf_rep_bp->fw_fid,
+					  &vf_rep_bp->dflt_vnic_id,
+					  &vf_rep_bp->svif);
+	if (rc) {
+		PMD_DRV_LOG(ERR, "Failed to get default vnic id of VF\n");
+		vf_rep_bp->dflt_vnic_id = BNXT_DFLT_VNIC_ID_INVALID;
+		vf_rep_bp->svif = BNXT_SVIF_INVALID;
+	} else {
+		PMD_DRV_LOG(INFO, "vf_rep->dflt_vnic_id = %d\n",
+				vf_rep_bp->dflt_vnic_id);
+	}
+	if (vf_rep_bp->dflt_vnic_id != BNXT_DFLT_VNIC_ID_INVALID &&
+	    vf_rep_bp->svif != BNXT_SVIF_INVALID) {
+		rep_info = &bp->rep_info[vf_rep_bp->vf_id];
+		rep_info->conduit_valid = true;
+	}
+
+	return rc;
+}
+
 int bnxt_vf_representor_init(struct rte_eth_dev *eth_dev, void *params)
 {
 	struct bnxt_vf_representor *vf_rep_bp = eth_dev->data->dev_private;
@@ -142,7 +168,6 @@ int bnxt_vf_representor_init(struct rte_eth_dev *eth_dev, void *params)
 				 (struct bnxt_vf_representor *)params;
 	struct rte_eth_link *link;
 	struct bnxt *parent_bp;
-	int rc = 0;
 
 	vf_rep_bp->vf_id = rep_params->vf_id;
 	vf_rep_bp->switch_domain_id = rep_params->switch_domain_id;
@@ -172,17 +197,6 @@ int bnxt_vf_representor_init(struct rte_eth_dev *eth_dev, void *params)
 	eth_dev->data->dev_link.link_status = link->link_status;
 	eth_dev->data->dev_link.link_autoneg = link->link_autoneg;
 
-	vf_rep_bp->fw_fid = rep_params->vf_id + parent_bp->first_vf_id;
-	PMD_DRV_LOG(INFO, "vf_rep->fw_fid = %d\n", vf_rep_bp->fw_fid);
-	rc = bnxt_hwrm_get_dflt_vnic_svif(parent_bp, vf_rep_bp->fw_fid,
-					  &vf_rep_bp->dflt_vnic_id,
-					  &vf_rep_bp->svif);
-	if (rc)
-		PMD_DRV_LOG(ERR, "Failed to get default vnic id of VF\n");
-	else
-		PMD_DRV_LOG(INFO, "vf_rep->dflt_vnic_id = %d\n",
-			    vf_rep_bp->dflt_vnic_id);
-
 	PMD_DRV_LOG(INFO, "calling bnxt_print_link_info\n");
 	bnxt_print_link_info(eth_dev);
 
@@ -194,6 +208,9 @@ int bnxt_vf_representor_init(struct rte_eth_dev *eth_dev, void *params)
 		    "Switch domain id %d: Representor Device %d init done\n",
 		    vf_rep_bp->switch_domain_id, vf_rep_bp->vf_id);
 
+	vf_rep_bp->fw_fid = rep_params->vf_id + parent_bp->first_vf_id;
+	PMD_DRV_LOG(INFO, "vf_rep->fw_fid = %d\n", vf_rep_bp->fw_fid);
+
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -369,21 +386,36 @@ static void bnxt_vf_rep_free_rx_mbufs(struct bnxt_vf_representor *rep_bp)
 int bnxt_vf_rep_dev_start_op(struct rte_eth_dev *eth_dev)
 {
 	struct bnxt_vf_representor *rep_bp = eth_dev->data->dev_private;
+	struct bnxt_rep_info *rep_info;
+	struct bnxt *parent_bp;
 	int rc;
 
-	rc = bnxt_vfr_alloc(eth_dev);
+	parent_bp = rep_bp->parent_dev->data->dev_private;
+	rep_info = &parent_bp->rep_info[rep_bp->vf_id];
 
-	if (!rc) {
-		eth_dev->rx_pkt_burst = &bnxt_vf_rep_rx_burst;
-		eth_dev->tx_pkt_burst = &bnxt_vf_rep_tx_burst;
+	pthread_mutex_lock(&rep_info->vfr_start_lock);
+	if (rep_info->conduit_valid) {
+		pthread_mutex_unlock(&rep_info->vfr_start_lock);
+		return 0;
+	}
+	rc = bnxt_get_dflt_vnic_svif(parent_bp, rep_bp);
+	if (rc || !rep_info->conduit_valid) {
+		pthread_mutex_unlock(&rep_info->vfr_start_lock);
+		return rc;
+	}
+	pthread_mutex_unlock(&rep_info->vfr_start_lock);
 
-		bnxt_vf_rep_link_update_op(eth_dev, 1);
-	} else {
+	rc = bnxt_vfr_alloc(eth_dev);
+	if (rc) {
 		eth_dev->data->dev_link.link_status = 0;
 		bnxt_vf_rep_free_rx_mbufs(rep_bp);
+		return rc;
 	}
+	eth_dev->rx_pkt_burst = &bnxt_vf_rep_rx_burst;
+	eth_dev->tx_pkt_burst = &bnxt_vf_rep_tx_burst;
+	bnxt_vf_rep_link_update_op(eth_dev, 1);
 
-	return rc;
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static int bnxt_tf_vfr_free(struct bnxt_vf_representor *vfr)
