diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40e/i40e_ethtool.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40e/i40e_ethtool.c
index 040a01400b855c6a65f23bff39ad0d17c4417167..53416787fb7b88642625b07b877fe579ce3a0fc8 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40e/i40e_ethtool.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40e/i40e_ethtool.c
@@ -1409,7 +1409,8 @@ static int i40e_set_fec_cfg(struct net_device *netdev, u8 fec_cfg)
 
 		memset(&config, 0, sizeof(config));
 		config.phy_type = abilities.phy_type;
-		config.abilities = abilities.abilities;
+		config.abilities = abilities.abilities |
+				   I40E_AQ_PHY_ENABLE_ATOMIC_LINK;
 		config.phy_type_ext = abilities.phy_type_ext;
 		config.link_speed = abilities.link_speed;
 		config.eee_capability = abilities.eee_capability;