diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/renesas/sh_eth.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/renesas/sh_eth.c
index c85222b02754f..2d686ccf971b1 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/renesas/sh_eth.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/renesas/sh_eth.c
@@ -3220,7 +3220,8 @@ static int sh_eth_drv_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	/* MDIO bus init */
 	ret = sh_mdio_init(mdp, pd);
 	if (ret) {
-		dev_err(&pdev->dev, "failed to initialise MDIO\n");
+		if (ret != -EPROBE_DEFER)
+			dev_err(&pdev->dev, "MDIO init failed: %d\n", ret);
 		goto out_release;
 	}