diff --git a/net/dsa/slave.c b/net/dsa/slave.c
index 40b9ca72aae3..91e3b2ff364a 100644
--- a/net/dsa/slave.c
+++ b/net/dsa/slave.c
@@ -1194,7 +1194,6 @@ int dsa_slave_create(struct dsa_switch *ds, struct device *parent,
 	if (ret) {
 		netdev_err(master, "error %d registering interface %s\n",
 			   ret, slave_dev->name);
-		phy_disconnect(p->phy);
 		ds->ports[port] = NULL;
 		free_netdev(slave_dev);
 		return ret;