diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/atheros/atl1e/atl1e_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/atheros/atl1e/atl1e_main.c
index 59a03a193e83..4384b2b4d238 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/atheros/atl1e/atl1e_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/atheros/atl1e/atl1e_main.c
@@ -478,7 +478,9 @@ static void atl1e_mdio_write(struct net_device *netdev, int phy_id,
 {
 	struct atl1e_adapter *adapter = netdev_priv(netdev);
 
-	atl1e_write_phy_reg(&adapter->hw, reg_num & MDIO_REG_ADDR_MASK, val);
+	if (atl1e_write_phy_reg(&adapter->hw,
+				reg_num & MDIO_REG_ADDR_MASK, val))
+		netdev_err(netdev, "write phy register failed\n");
 }
 
 static int atl1e_mii_ioctl(struct net_device *netdev,