diff --git a/drivers/net/phy/phy_device.c b/drivers/net/phy/phy_device.c
index fd051ae787cb..5dd661fb662f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/phy/phy_device.c
+++ b/drivers/net/phy/phy_device.c
@@ -2196,6 +2196,11 @@ int phy_driver_register(struct phy_driver *new_driver, struct module *owner)
 {
 	int retval;
 
+	if (WARN_ON(!new_driver->features)) {
+		pr_err("%s: Driver features are missing\n", new_driver->name);
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
 	new_driver->mdiodrv.flags |= MDIO_DEVICE_IS_PHY;
 	new_driver->mdiodrv.driver.name = new_driver->name;
 	new_driver->mdiodrv.driver.bus = &mdio_bus_type;
diff --git a/include/linux/phy.h b/include/linux/phy.h
index 306630d13523..f5d4235e3844 100644
--- a/include/linux/phy.h
+++ b/include/linux/phy.h
@@ -502,8 +502,8 @@ struct phy_device {
  *   only works for PHYs with IDs which match this field
  * name: The friendly name of this PHY type
  * phy_id_mask: Defines the important bits of the phy_id
- * features: A list of features (speed, duplex, etc) supported
- *   by this PHY
+ * features: A mandatory list of features (speed, duplex, etc)
+ *   supported by this PHY
  * flags: A bitfield defining certain other features this PHY
  *   supports (like interrupts)
  *