diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_x550.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_x550.c
index 5e339afa682a62ed3da06d1ab2a5b5f1d5b6fedb..37f2bc6de4b65732016e6b638e2a15d33e2da276 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_x550.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_x550.c
@@ -3405,6 +3405,9 @@ static s32 ixgbe_reset_hw_X550em(struct ixgbe_hw *hw)
 	/* flush pending Tx transactions */
 	ixgbe_clear_tx_pending(hw);
 
+	/* set MDIO speed before talking to the PHY in case it's the 1st time */
+	ixgbe_set_mdio_speed(hw);
+
 	/* PHY ops must be identified and initialized prior to reset */
 	status = hw->phy.ops.init(hw);
 	if (status == IXGBE_ERR_SFP_NOT_SUPPORTED ||