diff --git a/net/dsa/slave.c b/net/dsa/slave.c
index 68c9eea00518..ba1b6b9630d2 100644
--- a/net/dsa/slave.c
+++ b/net/dsa/slave.c
@@ -1105,10 +1105,8 @@ static int dsa_slave_phy_connect(struct dsa_slave_priv *p,
 	/* Use already configured phy mode */
 	if (p->phy_interface == PHY_INTERFACE_MODE_NA)
 		p->phy_interface = p->phy->interface;
-	phy_connect_direct(slave_dev, p->phy, dsa_slave_adjust_link,
-			   p->phy_interface);
-
-	return 0;
+	return phy_connect_direct(slave_dev, p->phy, dsa_slave_adjust_link,
+				  p->phy_interface);
 }
 
 static int dsa_slave_phy_setup(struct dsa_slave_priv *p,