diff --git a/drivers/net/phy/micrel.c b/drivers/net/phy/micrel.c
index 2243ad1b88e70..6c41550310e71 100644
--- a/drivers/net/phy/micrel.c
+++ b/drivers/net/phy/micrel.c
@@ -2088,7 +2088,8 @@ static int ksz886x_cable_test_get_status(struct phy_device *phydev,
 	const struct kszphy_type *type = phydev->drv->driver_data;
 	unsigned long pair_mask = type->pair_mask;
 	int retries = 20;
-	int pair, ret;
+	int ret = 0;
+	int pair;
 
 	*finished = false;