diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/smsc/smsc911x.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/smsc/smsc911x.c
index 0f21aa3bb5379a518d80a3afbd06795bbdb482aa..34f97684506bcfb2c585b182c545ac5a7d99bcd8 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/smsc/smsc911x.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/smsc/smsc911x.c
@@ -2367,12 +2367,17 @@ static const struct smsc911x_ops shifted_smsc911x_ops = {
 static int smsc911x_probe_config(struct smsc911x_platform_config *config,
 				 struct device *dev)
 {
+	int phy_interface;
 	u32 width = 0;
 
 	if (!dev)
 		return -ENODEV;
 
-	config->phy_interface = device_get_phy_mode(dev);
+	phy_interface = device_get_phy_mode(dev);
+	if (phy_interface < 0)
+		return phy_interface;
+
+	config->phy_interface = phy_interface;
 
 	device_get_mac_address(dev, config->mac, ETH_ALEN);