diff --git a/drivers/net/benet/be_ethtool.c b/drivers/net/benet/be_ethtool.c
index c0ade242895d36b56412b94dfb3b85fcf9d7114c..cd16243c7c364a858d849ac3f70ac10bbbfcb966 100644
--- a/drivers/net/benet/be_ethtool.c
+++ b/drivers/net/benet/be_ethtool.c
@@ -322,10 +322,11 @@ static int be_get_settings(struct net_device *netdev, struct ethtool_cmd *ecmd)
 	int status;
 	u16 intf_type;
 
-	if (adapter->link_speed < 0) {
+	if ((adapter->link_speed < 0) || (!(netdev->flags & IFF_UP))) {
 		status = be_cmd_link_status_query(adapter, &link_up,
 						&mac_speed, &link_speed);
 
+		be_link_status_update(adapter, link_up);
 		/* link_speed is in units of 10 Mbps */
 		if (link_speed) {
 			ecmd->speed = link_speed*10;