diff --git a/drivers/net/dsa/mv88e6xxx/chip.c b/drivers/net/dsa/mv88e6xxx/chip.c
index 18388ea5ebd9..afc5500ef8ed 100644
--- a/drivers/net/dsa/mv88e6xxx/chip.c
+++ b/drivers/net/dsa/mv88e6xxx/chip.c
@@ -726,7 +726,11 @@ static void mv88e6xxx_mac_link_down(struct dsa_switch *ds, int port,
 	ops = chip->info->ops;
 
 	mv88e6xxx_reg_lock(chip);
-	if ((!mv88e6xxx_port_ppu_updates(chip, port) ||
+	/* Internal PHYs propagate their configuration directly to the MAC.
+	 * External PHYs depend on whether the PPU is enabled for this port.
+	 */
+	if (((!mv88e6xxx_phy_is_internal(ds, port) &&
+	      !mv88e6xxx_port_ppu_updates(chip, port)) ||
 	     mode == MLO_AN_FIXED) && ops->port_set_link)
 		err = ops->port_set_link(chip, port, LINK_FORCED_DOWN);
 	mv88e6xxx_reg_unlock(chip);
@@ -749,7 +753,12 @@ static void mv88e6xxx_mac_link_up(struct dsa_switch *ds, int port,
 	ops = chip->info->ops;
 
 	mv88e6xxx_reg_lock(chip);
-	if (!mv88e6xxx_port_ppu_updates(chip, port) || mode == MLO_AN_FIXED) {
+	/* Internal PHYs propagate their configuration directly to the MAC.
+	 * External PHYs depend on whether the PPU is enabled for this port.
+	 */
+	if ((!mv88e6xxx_phy_is_internal(ds, port) &&
+	     !mv88e6xxx_port_ppu_updates(chip, port)) ||
+	    mode == MLO_AN_FIXED) {
 		/* FIXME: for an automedia port, should we force the link
 		 * down here - what if the link comes up due to "other" media
 		 * while we're bringing the port up, how is the exclusivity