diff --git a/drivers/net/phy/phy_device.c b/drivers/net/phy/phy_device.c
index 8cff61dbc4b5..7fbb0904b3c0 100644
--- a/drivers/net/phy/phy_device.c
+++ b/drivers/net/phy/phy_device.c
@@ -3041,8 +3041,6 @@ static int phy_probe(struct device *dev)
 	if (phydrv->flags & PHY_IS_INTERNAL)
 		phydev->is_internal = true;
 
-	mutex_lock(&phydev->lock);
-
 	/* Deassert the reset signal */
 	phy_device_reset(phydev, 0);
 
@@ -3110,12 +3108,10 @@ static int phy_probe(struct device *dev)
 	phydev->state = PHY_READY;
 
 out:
-	/* Assert the reset signal */
+	/* Re-assert the reset signal on error */
 	if (err)
 		phy_device_reset(phydev, 1);
 
-	mutex_unlock(&phydev->lock);
-
 	return err;
 }
 
@@ -3125,9 +3121,7 @@ static int phy_remove(struct device *dev)
 
 	cancel_delayed_work_sync(&phydev->state_queue);
 
-	mutex_lock(&phydev->lock);
 	phydev->state = PHY_DOWN;
-	mutex_unlock(&phydev->lock);
 
 	sfp_bus_del_upstream(phydev->sfp_bus);
 	phydev->sfp_bus = NULL;