diff --git a/target/linux/generic/files/drivers/net/phy/ar8216.c b/target/linux/generic/files/drivers/net/phy/ar8216.c
index 10bdf52353..b8cc2c8f4c 100644
--- a/target/linux/generic/files/drivers/net/phy/ar8216.c
+++ b/target/linux/generic/files/drivers/net/phy/ar8216.c
@@ -1975,10 +1975,6 @@ ar8xxx_probe_switch(struct ar8xxx_priv *priv)
 	struct switch_dev *swdev;
 	int ret;
 
-	ret = ar8xxx_id_chip(priv);
-	if (ret)
-		return ret;
-
 	chip = priv->chip;
 
 	swdev = &priv->dev;
@@ -2208,6 +2204,10 @@ ar8xxx_phy_probe(struct phy_device *phydev)
 	priv->mii_bus = phydev->mdio.bus;
 	priv->pdev = &phydev->mdio.dev;
 
+	ret = ar8xxx_id_chip(priv);
+	if (ret)
+		goto free_priv;
+
 	ret = ar8xxx_probe_switch(priv);
 	if (ret)
 		goto free_priv;