diff --git a/drivers/staging/mt7621-eth/mdio.c b/drivers/staging/mt7621-eth/mdio.c
index 96ecda930c4803..9d713078ef901b 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/mt7621-eth/mdio.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/mt7621-eth/mdio.c
@@ -82,10 +82,10 @@ int mtk_connect_phy_node(struct mtk_eth *eth, struct mtk_mac *mac,
 
 	phydev = of_phy_connect(eth->netdev[mac->id], phy_node,
 				mtk_phy_link_adjust, 0, phy_mode);
-	if (IS_ERR(phydev)) {
+	if (!phydev) {
 		dev_err(eth->dev, "could not connect to PHY\n");
 		eth->phy->phy_node[port] = NULL;
-		return PTR_ERR(phydev);
+		return -ENODEV;
 	}
 
 	phydev->supported &= PHY_GBIT_FEATURES;