diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/ibm/emac/core.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/ibm/emac/core.c
index 0a4d04a8825da..9b08e41ccc294 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/ibm/emac/core.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/ibm/emac/core.c
@@ -2979,11 +2979,9 @@ static int emac_init_config(struct emac_instance *dev)
 
 	/* Read MAC-address */
 	err = of_get_ethdev_address(np, dev->ndev);
-	if (err) {
-		if (err != -EPROBE_DEFER)
-			dev_err(&dev->ofdev->dev, "Can't get valid [local-]mac-address from OF !\n");
-		return err;
-	}
+	if (err)
+		return dev_err_probe(&dev->ofdev->dev, err,
+				     "Can't get valid [local-]mac-address from OF !\n");
 
 	/* IAHT and GAHT filter parameterization */
 	if (emac_has_feature(dev, EMAC_FTR_EMAC4SYNC)) {