diff --git a/drivers/net/mdio/fwnode_mdio.c b/drivers/net/mdio/fwnode_mdio.c
index 1c1584fca632..3e79c2c51929 100644
--- a/drivers/net/mdio/fwnode_mdio.c
+++ b/drivers/net/mdio/fwnode_mdio.c
@@ -47,9 +47,7 @@ int fwnode_mdiobus_phy_device_register(struct mii_bus *mdio,
 	 * just fall back to poll mode
 	 */
 	if (rc == -EPROBE_DEFER)
-		rc = driver_deferred_probe_check_state(&phy->mdio.dev);
-	if (rc == -EPROBE_DEFER)
-		return rc;
+		rc = -ENODEV;
 
 	if (rc > 0) {
 		phy->irq = rc;