diff --git a/drivers/net/phy/phy_device.c b/drivers/net/phy/phy_device.c
index da3bf3f70d63..1b540ed9b326 100644
--- a/drivers/net/phy/phy_device.c
+++ b/drivers/net/phy/phy_device.c
@@ -948,6 +948,9 @@ int phy_connect_direct(struct net_device *dev, struct phy_device *phydev,
 {
 	int rc;
 
+	if (!dev)
+		return -EINVAL;
+
 	rc = phy_attach_direct(dev, phydev, phydev->dev_flags, interface);
 	if (rc)
 		return rc;
@@ -1307,6 +1310,9 @@ struct phy_device *phy_attach(struct net_device *dev, const char *bus_id,
 	struct device *d;
 	int rc;
 
+	if (!dev)
+		return ERR_PTR(-EINVAL);
+
 	/* Search the list of PHY devices on the mdio bus for the
 	 * PHY with the requested name
 	 */