diff --git a/drivers/net/phy/phy_device.c b/drivers/net/phy/phy_device.c
index 3bd415710bf3..f3696d9819d3 100644
--- a/drivers/net/phy/phy_device.c
+++ b/drivers/net/phy/phy_device.c
@@ -927,8 +927,8 @@ static int get_phy_c45_ids(struct mii_bus *bus, int addr,
 				/* returning -ENODEV doesn't stop bus
 				 * scanning
 				 */
-				return (phy_reg == -EIO ||
-					phy_reg == -ENODEV) ? -ENODEV : -EIO;
+				return (ret == -EIO ||
+					ret == -ENODEV) ? -ENODEV : -EIO;
 
 			if (!ret)
 				continue;