diff --git a/drivers/net/phy/vitesse.c b/drivers/net/phy/vitesse.c
index 941d076..2635b82 100644
--- a/drivers/net/phy/vitesse.c
+++ b/drivers/net/phy/vitesse.c
@@ -112,10 +112,12 @@
 
 static int vitesse_startup(struct phy_device *phydev)
 {
-	genphy_update_link(phydev);
-	vitesse_parse_status(phydev);
+	int ret;
 
-	return 0;
+	ret = genphy_update_link(phydev);
+	if (ret)
+		return ret;
+	return vitesse_parse_status(phydev);
 }
 
 static int cis8204_config(struct phy_device *phydev)