diff --git a/drivers/usb/dwc3/core.c b/drivers/usb/dwc3/core.c
index 9d6df4c67894..d73f624ed42a 100644
--- a/drivers/usb/dwc3/core.c
+++ b/drivers/usb/dwc3/core.c
@@ -960,8 +960,13 @@ static int dwc3_core_init(struct dwc3 *dwc)
 
 	if (!dwc->ulpi_ready) {
 		ret = dwc3_core_ulpi_init(dwc);
-		if (ret)
+		if (ret) {
+			if (ret == -ETIMEDOUT) {
+				dwc3_core_soft_reset(dwc);
+				ret = -EPROBE_DEFER;
+			}
 			goto err0;
+		}
 		dwc->ulpi_ready = true;
 	}