diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/sun/sungem.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/sun/sungem.c
index dbfca04667603..fa607d062cb31 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/sun/sungem.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/sun/sungem.c
@@ -1259,8 +1259,9 @@ static void gem_begin_auto_negotiation(struct gem *gp,
 	int duplex;
 	u32 advertising;
 
-	ethtool_convert_link_mode_to_legacy_u32(&advertising,
-						ep->link_modes.advertising);
+	if (ep)
+		ethtool_convert_link_mode_to_legacy_u32(
+			&advertising, ep->link_modes.advertising);
 
 	if (gp->phy_type != phy_mii_mdio0 &&
      	    gp->phy_type != phy_mii_mdio1)