diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/amd/au1000_eth.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/amd/au1000_eth.c
index 7c1eb304c27e..e833d1b3fe18 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/amd/au1000_eth.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/amd/au1000_eth.c
@@ -940,11 +940,8 @@ static int au1000_open(struct net_device *dev)
 		return retval;
 	}
 
-	if (dev->phydev) {
-		/* cause the PHY state machine to schedule a link state check */
-		dev->phydev->state = PHY_CHANGELINK;
+	if (dev->phydev)
 		phy_start(dev->phydev);
-	}
 
 	netif_start_queue(dev);
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/ti/cpmac.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/ti/cpmac.c
index 9b8a30bf939b..810dfc7de1f9 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/ti/cpmac.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/ti/cpmac.c
@@ -991,7 +991,6 @@ static int cpmac_open(struct net_device *dev)
 	cpmac_hw_start(dev);
 
 	napi_enable(&priv->napi);
-	dev->phydev->state = PHY_CHANGELINK;
 	phy_start(dev->phydev);
 
 	return 0;