diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-sun8i.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-sun8i.c
index 49a896a16391948162b9bc748d516dd5d307c5f7..79c91526f3ecce6470a73d0c52fde876508852e2 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-sun8i.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-sun8i.c
@@ -893,6 +893,11 @@ 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)) {