diff --git a/arch/tile/include/hv/drv_trio_intf.h b/arch/tile/include/hv/drv_trio_intf.h
index ef9f3f52ee27..ec643a02b4c5 100644
--- a/arch/tile/include/hv/drv_trio_intf.h
+++ b/arch/tile/include/hv/drv_trio_intf.h
@@ -64,8 +64,9 @@ struct pcie_port_property
    *  will not consider it an error if the link comes up as a x8 link. */
   uint8_t allow_x8: 1;
 
-  /** Reserved. */
-  uint8_t reserved: 1;
+  /** If true, this link is connected to a device which may or may not
+   *  be present. */
+  uint8_t removable: 1;
 
 };
 
diff --git a/arch/tile/kernel/pci_gx.c b/arch/tile/kernel/pci_gx.c
index e0d666483e13..bf8c69de2792 100644
--- a/arch/tile/kernel/pci_gx.c
+++ b/arch/tile/kernel/pci_gx.c
@@ -729,8 +729,14 @@ int __init pcibios_init(void)
 			__gxio_mmio_read(trio_context->mmio_base_mac +
 					 reg_offset);
 		if (!port_status.dl_up) {
-			pr_err("PCI: link is down, MAC %d on TRIO %d\n",
-				mac, trio_index);
+			if (pcie_ports[trio_index][mac].removable) {
+				pr_info("PCI: link is down, MAC %d on TRIO %d\n",
+					mac, trio_index);
+				pr_info("This is expected if no PCIe card"
+					" is connected to this link\n");
+			} else
+				pr_err("PCI: link is down, MAC %d on TRIO %d\n",
+					mac, trio_index);
 			continue;
 		}