diff --git a/board/sunxi/gmac.c b/board/sunxi/gmac.c
index 69eb8ff2d9..826650c89b 100644
--- a/board/sunxi/gmac.c
+++ b/board/sunxi/gmac.c
@@ -33,7 +33,11 @@ void eth_init_board(void)
 
 #ifndef CONFIG_MACH_SUN6I
 	/* Configure pin mux settings for GMAC */
+#ifdef CONFIG_SUN7I_GMAC_FORCE_TXERR
+	for (pin = SUNXI_GPA(0); pin <= SUNXI_GPA(17); pin++) {
+#else
 	for (pin = SUNXI_GPA(0); pin <= SUNXI_GPA(16); pin++) {
+#endif
 #ifdef CONFIG_RGMII
 		/* skip unused pins in RGMII mode */
 		if (pin == SUNXI_GPA(9) || pin == SUNXI_GPA(14))
diff --git a/configs/A20-OLinuXino_MICRO-eMMC_defconfig b/configs/A20-OLinuXino_MICRO-eMMC_defconfig
index 2ff2723065..43bcea92a5 100644
--- a/configs/A20-OLinuXino_MICRO-eMMC_defconfig
+++ b/configs/A20-OLinuXino_MICRO-eMMC_defconfig
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ CONFIG_SPL_I2C_SUPPORT=y
 # CONFIG_SPL_EFI_PARTITION is not set
 CONFIG_ETH_DESIGNWARE=y
 CONFIG_SUN7I_GMAC=y
+CONFIG_SUN7I_GMAC_FORCE_TXERR=y
 CONFIG_AXP_ALDO3_VOLT=2800
 CONFIG_AXP_ALDO4_VOLT=2800
 CONFIG_SCSI=y
diff --git a/configs/A20-OLinuXino_MICRO_defconfig b/configs/A20-OLinuXino_MICRO_defconfig
index 1a0ad5a6d4..22eacb370e 100644
--- a/configs/A20-OLinuXino_MICRO_defconfig
+++ b/configs/A20-OLinuXino_MICRO_defconfig
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ CONFIG_SPL_I2C_SUPPORT=y
 # CONFIG_SPL_EFI_PARTITION is not set
 CONFIG_ETH_DESIGNWARE=y
 CONFIG_SUN7I_GMAC=y
+CONFIG_SUN7I_GMAC_FORCE_TXERR=y
 CONFIG_AXP_ALDO3_VOLT=2800
 CONFIG_AXP_ALDO4_VOLT=2800
 CONFIG_SCSI=y
diff --git a/drivers/net/Kconfig b/drivers/net/Kconfig
index 52555da4b3..d42d915f17 100644
--- a/drivers/net/Kconfig
+++ b/drivers/net/Kconfig
@@ -244,6 +244,14 @@ config SUN7I_GMAC
 	help
 	  Enable the support for Sun7i GMAC Ethernet controller
 
+config SUN7I_GMAC_FORCE_TXERR
+	bool "Force PA17 as gmac function"
+	depends on SUN7I_GMAC
+	help
+	  Some ethernet phys needs TXERR control. Since the GMAC
+	  doesn't have such signal, setting PA17 as GMAC function
+	  makes the pin output low, which enables data transmission.
+
 config SUN4I_EMAC
 	bool "Allwinner Sun4i Ethernet MAC support"
 	depends on DM_ETH