diff --git a/drivers/net/phy/phylink.c b/drivers/net/phy/phylink.c
index 422dc92ecac9..514e7f9e0339 100644
--- a/drivers/net/phy/phylink.c
+++ b/drivers/net/phy/phylink.c
@@ -853,6 +853,7 @@ struct phylink *phylink_create(struct phylink_config *config,
 	pl->config = config;
 	if (config->type == PHYLINK_NETDEV) {
 		pl->netdev = to_net_dev(config->dev);
+		netif_carrier_off(pl->netdev);
 	} else if (config->type == PHYLINK_DEV) {
 		pl->dev = config->dev;
 	} else {