diff --git a/drivers/net/usb/asix.c b/drivers/net/usb/asix.c
index 873860d46e9e..b4675e89e42c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/usb/asix.c
+++ b/drivers/net/usb/asix.c
@@ -652,9 +652,17 @@ static u32 asix_get_phyid(struct usbnet *dev)
 {
 	int phy_reg;
 	u32 phy_id;
+	int i;
 
-	phy_reg = asix_mdio_read(dev->net, dev->mii.phy_id, MII_PHYSID1);
-	if (phy_reg < 0)
+	/* Poll for the rare case the FW or phy isn't ready yet.  */
+	for (i = 0; i < 100; i++) {
+		phy_reg = asix_mdio_read(dev->net, dev->mii.phy_id, MII_PHYSID1);
+		if (phy_reg != 0 && phy_reg != 0xFFFF)
+			break;
+		mdelay(1);
+	}
+
+	if (phy_reg <= 0 || phy_reg == 0xFFFF)
 		return 0;
 
 	phy_id = (phy_reg & 0xffff) << 16;