diff --git a/drivers/net/phy/phy.c b/drivers/net/phy/phy.c
index 65c731afb6..a6023f1033 100644
--- a/drivers/net/phy/phy.c
+++ b/drivers/net/phy/phy.c
@@ -571,7 +571,7 @@ static struct phy_device *phy_device_create(struct mii_dev *bus, int addr,
 	memset(dev, 0, sizeof(*dev));
 
 	dev->duplex = -1;
-	dev->link = 1;
+	dev->link = 0;
 	dev->interface = interface;
 
 	dev->autoneg = AUTONEG_ENABLE;