diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/stmmac_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/stmmac_main.c
index 15b0daf416f3..4191502d6472 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/stmmac_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/stmmac_main.c
@@ -1242,6 +1242,11 @@ static int stmmac_init_phy(struct net_device *dev)
 		int addr = priv->plat->phy_addr;
 		struct phy_device *phydev;
 
+		if (addr < 0) {
+			netdev_err(priv->dev, "no phy found\n");
+			return -ENODEV;
+		}
+
 		phydev = mdiobus_get_phy(priv->mii, addr);
 		if (!phydev) {
 			netdev_err(priv->dev, "no phy at addr %d\n", addr);