diff --git a/drivers/net/phy/phylink.c b/drivers/net/phy/phylink.c
index 09cc65c0da93..4d2519cdb801 100644
--- a/drivers/net/phy/phylink.c
+++ b/drivers/net/phy/phylink.c
@@ -1812,10 +1812,9 @@ int phylink_fwnode_phy_connect(struct phylink *pl,
 
 	ret = phy_attach_direct(pl->netdev, phy_dev, flags,
 				pl->link_interface);
-	if (ret) {
-		phy_device_free(phy_dev);
+	phy_device_free(phy_dev);
+	if (ret)
 		return ret;
-	}
 
 	ret = phylink_bringup_phy(pl, phy_dev, pl->link_config.interface);
 	if (ret)