diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_main.c
index a10728c32f65cc..81cbca4e6df5ce 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_main.c
@@ -3804,6 +3804,9 @@ static void ixgbe_setup_rdrxctl(struct ixgbe_adapter *adapter)
 		break;
 	case ixgbe_mac_X550:
 	case ixgbe_mac_X550EM_x:
+		if (adapter->num_vfs)
+			rdrxctl |= IXGBE_RDRXCTL_PSP;
+		/* fall through for older HW */
 	case ixgbe_mac_82599EB:
 	case ixgbe_mac_X540:
 		/* Disable RSC for ACK packets */
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_type.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_type.h
index 998cfb915ad76c..939c90c4ff3917 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_type.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_type.h
@@ -1193,6 +1193,7 @@ struct ixgbe_thermal_sensor_data {
 /* RDRXCTL Bit Masks */
 #define IXGBE_RDRXCTL_RDMTS_1_2     0x00000000 /* Rx Desc Min Threshold Size */
 #define IXGBE_RDRXCTL_CRCSTRIP      0x00000002 /* CRC Strip */
+#define IXGBE_RDRXCTL_PSP           0x00000004 /* Pad small packet */
 #define IXGBE_RDRXCTL_MVMEN         0x00000020
 #define IXGBE_RDRXCTL_DMAIDONE      0x00000008 /* DMA init cycle done */
 #define IXGBE_RDRXCTL_AGGDIS        0x00010000 /* Aggregation disable */