diff --git a/common/spl/spl_net.c b/common/spl/spl_net.c
index b6967ff69e..c91ad2b6dd 100644
--- a/common/spl/spl_net.c
+++ b/common/spl/spl_net.c
@@ -85,7 +85,9 @@ int spl_net_load_image_usb(struct spl_image_info *spl_image,
 			   struct spl_boot_device *bootdev)
 {
 	bootdev->boot_device_name = "usb_ether";
-
+#if CONFIG_IS_ENABLED(DM_USB_GADGET)
+	usb_ether_init();
+#endif
 	return spl_net_load_image(spl_image, bootdev);
 }
 SPL_LOAD_IMAGE_METHOD("USB eth", 0, BOOT_DEVICE_USBETH, spl_net_load_image_usb);