diff --git a/drivers/net/fec_mxc.c b/drivers/net/fec_mxc.c
index eee41d7..5700552 100644
--- a/drivers/net/fec_mxc.c
+++ b/drivers/net/fec_mxc.c
@@ -510,7 +510,13 @@
 		fec_eth_phy_config(edev);
 	if (fec->phydev) {
 		/* Start up the PHY */
-		phy_startup(fec->phydev);
+		int ret = phy_startup(fec->phydev);
+
+		if (ret) {
+			printf("Could not initialize PHY %s\n",
+			       fec->phydev->dev->name);
+			return ret;
+		}
 		speed = fec->phydev->speed;
 	} else {
 		speed = _100BASET;
diff --git a/drivers/net/fm/eth.c b/drivers/net/fm/eth.c
index f34f4db..2b616ad 100644
--- a/drivers/net/fm/eth.c
+++ b/drivers/net/fm/eth.c
@@ -363,6 +363,9 @@
 {
 	struct fm_eth *fm_eth;
 	struct fsl_enet_mac *mac;
+#ifdef CONFIG_PHYLIB
+	int ret;
+#endif
 
 	fm_eth = (struct fm_eth *)dev->priv;
 	mac = fm_eth->mac;
@@ -384,7 +387,11 @@
 	fmc_tx_port_graceful_stop_disable(fm_eth);
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_PHYLIB
-	phy_startup(fm_eth->phydev);
+	ret = phy_startup(fm_eth->phydev);
+	if (ret) {
+		printf("%s: Could not initialize\n", fm_eth->phydev->dev->name);
+		return ret;
+	}
 #else
 	fm_eth->phydev->speed = SPEED_1000;
 	fm_eth->phydev->link = 1;
diff --git a/drivers/net/sh_eth.c b/drivers/net/sh_eth.c
index bb57e4d..268d884 100644
--- a/drivers/net/sh_eth.c
+++ b/drivers/net/sh_eth.c
@@ -415,7 +415,11 @@
 		goto err_phy_cfg;
 	}
 	phy = port_info->phydev;
-	phy_startup(phy);
+	ret = phy_startup(phy);
+	if (ret) {
+		printf(SHETHER_NAME ": phy startup failure\n");
+		return ret;
+	}
 
 	val = 0;
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/tsec.c b/drivers/net/tsec.c
index 3c1c8f0..f5e314b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/tsec.c
+++ b/drivers/net/tsec.c
@@ -480,6 +480,7 @@
 	int i;
 	struct tsec_private *priv = (struct tsec_private *)dev->priv;
 	tsec_t *regs = priv->regs;
+	int ret;
 
 	/* Make sure the controller is stopped */
 	tsec_halt(dev);
@@ -511,7 +512,12 @@
 	startup_tsec(dev);
 
 	/* Start up the PHY */
-	phy_startup(priv->phydev);
+	ret = phy_startup(priv->phydev);
+	if (ret) {
+		printf("Could not initialize PHY %s\n",
+		       priv->phydev->dev->name);
+		return ret;
+	}
 
 	adjust_link(priv, priv->phydev);
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/xilinx_axi_emac.c b/drivers/net/xilinx_axi_emac.c
index 7854a04..d777144 100644
--- a/drivers/net/xilinx_axi_emac.c
+++ b/drivers/net/xilinx_axi_emac.c
@@ -272,7 +272,11 @@
 	phydev->advertising = phydev->supported;
 	priv->phydev = phydev;
 	phy_config(phydev);
-	phy_startup(phydev);
+	if (phy_startup(phydev)) {
+		printf("axiemac: could not initialize PHY %s\n",
+		       phydev->dev->name);
+		return 0;
+	}
 
 	switch (phydev->speed) {
 	case 1000:
diff --git a/drivers/net/xilinx_ll_temac.c b/drivers/net/xilinx_ll_temac.c
index 27dafc1..b67153b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/xilinx_ll_temac.c
+++ b/drivers/net/xilinx_ll_temac.c
@@ -232,6 +232,7 @@
 static int ll_temac_init(struct eth_device *dev, bd_t *bis)
 {
 	struct ll_temac *ll_temac = dev->priv;
+	int ret;
 
 	printf("%s: Xilinx XPS LocalLink Tri-Mode Ether MAC #%d at 0x%08X.\n",
 		dev->name, dev->index, dev->iobase);
@@ -240,7 +241,12 @@
 		return -1;
 
 	/* Start up the PHY */
-	phy_startup(ll_temac->phydev);
+	ret = phy_startup(ll_temac->phydev);
+	if (ret) {
+		printf("%s: Could not initialize PHY %s\n",
+		       dev->name, ll_temac->phydev->dev->name);
+		return ret;
+	}
 
 	if (!ll_temac_adjust_link(dev)) {
 		ll_temac_halt(dev);