diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_link.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_link.c
index 4ffc75dfa10ae..cc7dbbeed4579 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_link.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_link.c
@@ -11489,6 +11489,10 @@ static int bnx2x_populate_ext_phy(struct bnx2x *bp,
 		return -EINVAL;
 	default:
 		*phy = phy_null;
+		/* In case external PHY wasn't found */
+		if ((phy_type != PORT_HW_CFG_XGXS_EXT_PHY_TYPE_DIRECT) &&
+		    (phy_type != PORT_HW_CFG_XGXS_EXT_PHY_TYPE_NOT_CONN))
+			return -EINVAL;
 		return 0;
 	}