diff --git a/drivers/net/macb.c b/drivers/net/macb.c
index 375c8a4..4616f36 100644
--- a/drivers/net/macb.c
+++ b/drivers/net/macb.c
@@ -525,6 +525,7 @@
 	return 1;
 }
 
+static int macb_write_hwaddr(struct eth_device *dev);
 static int macb_init(struct eth_device *netdev, bd_t *bd)
 {
 	struct macb_device *macb = to_macb(netdev);
@@ -587,6 +588,14 @@
 #endif /* CONFIG_RMII */
 	}
 
+	/* update the ethaddr */
+	if (is_valid_ether_addr(netdev->enetaddr)) {
+		macb_write_hwaddr(netdev);
+	} else {
+		printf("%s: mac address is not valid\n", netdev->name);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
 	if (!macb_phy_init(macb))
 		return -1;