diff --git a/drivers/net/designware.c b/drivers/net/designware.c
index c45593bcc0970d18f2cb4b5bd6af518d410b4a0e..78751b2600c683a9bb9079c0a28b8c7beeab266c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/designware.c
+++ b/drivers/net/designware.c
@@ -390,6 +390,8 @@ static int dw_phy_init(struct eth_device *dev)
 	if (!phydev)
 		return -1;
 
+	phy_connect_dev(phydev, dev);
+
 	phydev->supported &= PHY_GBIT_FEATURES;
 	phydev->advertising = phydev->supported;