diff --git a/drivers/net/phy/smsc.c b/drivers/net/phy/smsc.c
index c328208388da..fd7c9f5ff99e 100644
--- a/drivers/net/phy/smsc.c
+++ b/drivers/net/phy/smsc.c
@@ -112,8 +112,11 @@ static int lan911x_config_init(struct phy_device *phydev)
 static int lan87xx_read_status(struct phy_device *phydev)
 {
 	struct smsc_phy_priv *priv = phydev->priv;
+	int err;
 
-	int err = genphy_read_status(phydev);
+	err = genphy_read_status(phydev);
+	if (err)
+		return err;
 
 	if (!phydev->link && priv->energy_enable) {
 		int i;