diff --git a/drivers/net/designware.c b/drivers/net/designware.c
index 2c5d9560c5..3b6cf5ddb5 100644
--- a/drivers/net/designware.c
+++ b/drivers/net/designware.c
@@ -677,10 +677,10 @@ int designware_eth_probe(struct udevice *dev)
 	struct dw_eth_dev *priv = dev_get_priv(dev);
 	u32 iobase = pdata->iobase;
 	ulong ioaddr;
-	int ret;
+	int ret, err;
 	struct reset_ctl_bulk reset_bulk;
 #ifdef CONFIG_CLK
-	int i, err, clock_nb;
+	int i, clock_nb;
 
 	priv->clock_count = 0;
 	clock_nb = dev_count_phandle_with_args(dev, "clocks", "#clock-cells");
@@ -753,13 +753,23 @@ int designware_eth_probe(struct udevice *dev)
 	priv->interface = pdata->phy_interface;
 	priv->max_speed = pdata->max_speed;
 
-	dw_mdio_init(dev->name, dev);
+	ret = dw_mdio_init(dev->name, dev);
+	if (ret) {
+		err = ret;
+		goto mdio_err;
+	}
 	priv->bus = miiphy_get_dev_by_name(dev->name);
 
 	ret = dw_phy_init(priv, dev);
 	debug("%s, ret=%d\n", __func__, ret);
+	if (!ret)
+		return 0;
 
-	return ret;
+	/* continue here for cleanup if no PHY found */
+	err = ret;
+	mdio_unregister(priv->bus);
+	mdio_free(priv->bus);
+mdio_err:
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_CLK
 clk_err:
@@ -767,8 +777,8 @@ clk_err:
 	if (ret)
 		pr_err("failed to disable all clocks\n");
 
-	return err;
 #endif
+	return err;
 }
 
 static int designware_eth_remove(struct udevice *dev)