diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/genet/bcmmii.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/genet/bcmmii.c
index 01e6e6a36b9c..3ad016f500b5 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/genet/bcmmii.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/genet/bcmmii.c
@@ -346,11 +346,12 @@ int bcmgenet_mii_probe(struct net_device *dev)
 	struct bcmgenet_priv *priv = netdev_priv(dev);
 	struct device_node *dn = priv->pdev->dev.of_node;
 	struct phy_device *phydev;
-	u32 phy_flags;
+	u32 phy_flags = 0;
 	int ret;
 
 	/* Communicate the integrated PHY revision */
-	phy_flags = priv->gphy_rev;
+	if (priv->internal_phy)
+		phy_flags = priv->gphy_rev;
 
 	/* Initialize link state variables that bcmgenet_mii_setup() uses */
 	priv->old_link = -1;