diff --git a/drivers/net/ipa/ipa_main.c b/drivers/net/ipa/ipa_main.c
index 9e43b79d233e..214e524dce79 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ipa/ipa_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ipa/ipa_main.c
@@ -87,11 +87,13 @@
  * @IPA_LOADER_DEFER:		System not ready; try again later
  * @IPA_LOADER_SELF:		AP loads GSI firmware
  * @IPA_LOADER_MODEM:		Modem loads GSI firmware, signals when done
+ * @IPA_LOADER_INVALID:	GSI firmware loader specification is invalid
  */
 enum ipa_firmware_loader {
 	IPA_LOADER_DEFER,
 	IPA_LOADER_SELF,
 	IPA_LOADER_MODEM,
+	IPA_LOADER_INVALID,
 };
 
 /**
@@ -711,9 +713,37 @@ static void ipa_validate_build(void)
 
 static enum ipa_firmware_loader ipa_firmware_loader(struct device *dev)
 {
-	if (of_property_read_bool(dev->of_node, "modem-init"))
+	bool modem_init;
+	const char *str;
+	int ret;
+
+	/* Look up the old and new properties by name */
+	modem_init = of_property_read_bool(dev->of_node, "modem-init");
+	ret = of_property_read_string(dev->of_node, "qcom,gsi-loader", &str);
+
+	/* If the new property doesn't exist, it's legacy behavior */
+	if (ret == -EINVAL) {
+		if (modem_init)
+			return IPA_LOADER_MODEM;
+		goto out_self;
+	}
+
+	/* Any other error on the new property means it's poorly defined */
+	if (ret)
+		return IPA_LOADER_INVALID;
+
+	/* New property value exists; if old one does too, that's invalid */
+	if (modem_init)
+		return IPA_LOADER_INVALID;
+
+	/* Modem loads GSI firmware for "modem" */
+	if (!strcmp(str, "modem"))
 		return IPA_LOADER_MODEM;
 
+	/* Any value other than "self" is an error */
+	if (strcmp(str, "self"))
+		return IPA_LOADER_INVALID;
+out_self:
 	/* We need Trust Zone to load firmware; make sure it's available */
 	if (qcom_scm_is_available())
 		return IPA_LOADER_SELF;
@@ -773,6 +803,8 @@ static int ipa_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	}
 
 	loader = ipa_firmware_loader(dev);
+	if (loader == IPA_LOADER_INVALID)
+		return -EINVAL;
 	if (loader == IPA_LOADER_DEFER)
 		return -EPROBE_DEFER;
 
@@ -834,20 +866,18 @@ static int ipa_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 
 	dev_info(dev, "IPA driver initialized");
 
-	/* If the modem is doing early initialization, it will trigger a
-	 * call to ipa_setup() when it has finished.  In that case we're
-	 * done here.
+	/* If the modem is loading GSI firmware, it will trigger a call to
+	 * ipa_setup() when it has finished.  In that case we're done here.
 	 */
 	if (loader == IPA_LOADER_MODEM)
 		goto done;
 
-	/* Otherwise we need to load the firmware and have Trust Zone validate
-	 * and install it.  If that succeeds we can proceed with setup.
-	 */
+	/* The AP is loading GSI firmware; do so now */
 	ret = ipa_firmware_load(dev);
 	if (ret)
 		goto err_deconfig;
 
+	/* GSI firmware is loaded; proceed to setup */
 	ret = ipa_setup(ipa);
 	if (ret)
 		goto err_deconfig;