diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-sun8i.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-sun8i.c
index c3e94104474ff43708d1e2f43d6382c1f3f282a5..6d5cba4075eb2b83bf5fe5a9f69fff7c5efea7c8 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-sun8i.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-sun8i.c
@@ -898,6 +898,11 @@ static int sun8i_dwmac_set_syscon(struct stmmac_priv *priv)
 		 * address. No need to mask it again.
 		 */
 		reg |= 1 << H3_EPHY_ADDR_SHIFT;
+	} else {
+		/* For SoCs without internal PHY the PHY selection bit should be
+		 * set to 0 (external PHY).
+		 */
+		reg &= ~H3_EPHY_SELECT;
 	}
 
 	if (!of_property_read_u32(node, "allwinner,tx-delay-ps", &val)) {