diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/cadence/macb_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/cadence/macb_main.c
index d09bd43680b35..b4c9268100bbc 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/cadence/macb_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/cadence/macb_main.c
@@ -3952,10 +3952,16 @@ static int macb_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 		dev->max_mtu = ETH_DATA_LEN;
 
 	mac = of_get_mac_address(np);
-	if (mac)
+	if (mac) {
 		ether_addr_copy(bp->dev->dev_addr, mac);
-	else
-		macb_get_hwaddr(bp);
+	} else {
+		err = of_get_nvmem_mac_address(np, bp->dev->dev_addr);
+		if (err) {
+			if (err == -EPROBE_DEFER)
+				goto err_out_free_netdev;
+			macb_get_hwaddr(bp);
+		}
+	}
 
 	err = of_get_phy_mode(np);
 	if (err < 0) {