diff --git a/drivers/net/sfc/sfc.h b/drivers/net/sfc/sfc.h
index ca39df0c0f..09c9ca59aa 100644
--- a/drivers/net/sfc/sfc.h
+++ b/drivers/net/sfc/sfc.h
@@ -162,6 +162,8 @@ struct sfc_port {
 	boolean_t			mac_stats_reset_pending;
 	uint16_t			mac_stats_update_period_ms;
 	uint32_t			mac_stats_update_generation;
+	boolean_t			mac_stats_periodic_dma_supported;
+	uint64_t			mac_stats_last_request_timestamp;
 
 	uint32_t		mac_stats_mask[EFX_MAC_STATS_MASK_NPAGES];
 };
@@ -262,6 +264,13 @@ sfc_adapter_lock_fini(__rte_unused struct sfc_adapter *sa)
 	/* Just for symmetry of the API */
 }
 
+/** Get the number of milliseconds since boot from the default timer */
+static inline uint64_t
+sfc_get_system_msecs(void)
+{
+	return rte_get_timer_cycles() * MS_PER_S / rte_get_timer_hz();
+}
+
 int sfc_dma_alloc(const struct sfc_adapter *sa, const char *name, uint16_t id,
 		  size_t len, int socket_id, efsys_mem_t *esmp);
 void sfc_dma_free(const struct sfc_adapter *sa, efsys_mem_t *esmp);
diff --git a/drivers/net/sfc/sfc_port.c b/drivers/net/sfc/sfc_port.c
index be754804c1..d4498fa80d 100644
--- a/drivers/net/sfc/sfc_port.c
+++ b/drivers/net/sfc/sfc_port.c
@@ -67,8 +67,23 @@ sfc_port_update_mac_stats(struct sfc_adapter *sa)
 	if (sa->state != SFC_ADAPTER_STARTED)
 		return EINVAL;
 
-	/* If periodic statistics DMA'ing is off, request explicitly */
-	if (port->mac_stats_update_period_ms == 0) {
+	/*
+	 * If periodic statistics DMA'ing is off or if not supported,
+	 * make a manual request and keep an eye on timer if need be
+	 */
+	if (!port->mac_stats_periodic_dma_supported ||
+	    (port->mac_stats_update_period_ms == 0)) {
+		if (port->mac_stats_update_period_ms != 0) {
+			uint64_t timestamp = sfc_get_system_msecs();
+
+			if ((timestamp -
+			     port->mac_stats_last_request_timestamp) <
+			    port->mac_stats_update_period_ms)
+				return 0;
+
+			port->mac_stats_last_request_timestamp = timestamp;
+		}
+
 		rc = efx_mac_stats_upload(sa->nic, esmp);
 		if (rc != 0)
 			return rc;
@@ -215,8 +230,14 @@ sfc_port_start(struct sfc_adapter *sa)
 		rc = efx_mac_stats_periodic(sa->nic, &port->mac_stats_dma_mem,
 					    port->mac_stats_update_period_ms,
 					    B_FALSE);
-		if (rc != 0)
+		if (rc == 0) {
+			port->mac_stats_periodic_dma_supported = B_TRUE;
+		} else if (rc == EOPNOTSUPP) {
+			port->mac_stats_periodic_dma_supported = B_FALSE;
+			port->mac_stats_last_request_timestamp = 0;
+		} else {
 			goto fail_mac_stats_periodic;
+		}
 	}
 
 	sfc_log_init(sa, "disable MAC drain");