diff --git a/drivers/net/usb/ax88179_178a.c b/drivers/net/usb/ax88179_178a.c
index 88e084534853d..a9c418890a1ca 100644
--- a/drivers/net/usb/ax88179_178a.c
+++ b/drivers/net/usb/ax88179_178a.c
@@ -1273,6 +1273,8 @@ static void ax88179_get_mac_addr(struct usbnet *dev)
 
 	if (is_valid_ether_addr(mac)) {
 		eth_hw_addr_set(dev->net, mac);
+		if (!is_local_ether_addr(mac))
+			dev->net->addr_assign_type = NET_ADDR_PERM;
 	} else {
 		netdev_info(dev->net, "invalid MAC address, using random\n");
 		eth_hw_addr_random(dev->net);