diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/genet/bcmmii.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/genet/bcmmii.c
index 6fb6c3556285485a24eca1f6b33228365a50139c..2e516f4c435e3092e5399797402498c02e3c42ba 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/genet/bcmmii.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/genet/bcmmii.c
@@ -293,6 +293,8 @@ int bcmgenet_mii_probe(struct net_device *dev)
 	/* Communicate the integrated PHY revision */
 	if (priv->internal_phy)
 		phy_flags = priv->gphy_rev;
+	else
+		phy_flags = PHY_BRCM_AUTO_PWRDWN_ENABLE;
 
 	/* Initialize link state variables that bcmgenet_mii_setup() uses */
 	priv->old_link = -1;