diff --git a/drivers/net/phy/phy_device.c b/drivers/net/phy/phy_device.c
index 839e42f9e16a..2e7d5bfb338e 100644
--- a/drivers/net/phy/phy_device.c
+++ b/drivers/net/phy/phy_device.c
@@ -780,7 +780,7 @@ static int get_phy_c45_devs_in_pkg(struct mii_bus *bus, int addr, int dev_addr,
  * and identifiers in @c45_ids.
  *
  * Returns zero on success, %-EIO on bus access error, or %-ENODEV if
- * the "devices in package" is invalid.
+ * the "devices in package" is invalid or no device responds.
  */
 static int get_phy_c45_ids(struct mii_bus *bus, int addr,
 			   struct phy_c45_device_ids *c45_ids)
@@ -803,7 +803,11 @@ static int get_phy_c45_ids(struct mii_bus *bus, int addr,
 			 */
 			ret = phy_c45_probe_present(bus, addr, i);
 			if (ret < 0)
-				return -EIO;
+				/* returning -ENODEV doesn't stop bus
+				 * scanning
+				 */
+				return (phy_reg == -EIO ||
+					phy_reg == -ENODEV) ? -ENODEV : -EIO;
 
 			if (!ret)
 				continue;