diff --git a/target/linux/realtek/files-6.12/drivers/net/ethernet/rtl838x_eth.c b/target/linux/realtek/files-6.12/drivers/net/ethernet/rtl838x_eth.c
index 6b856a1b1e..6f90833749 100644
--- a/target/linux/realtek/files-6.12/drivers/net/ethernet/rtl838x_eth.c
+++ b/target/linux/realtek/files-6.12/drivers/net/ethernet/rtl838x_eth.c
@@ -3500,7 +3500,10 @@ static int __init rtl838x_eth_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	 * 1) from device tree data
 	 * 2) from internal registers set by bootloader
 	 */
-	of_get_mac_address(pdev->dev.of_node, mac_addr);
+	err = of_get_mac_address(pdev->dev.of_node, mac_addr);
+	if (err == -EPROBE_DEFER)
+		return err;
+
 	if (is_valid_ether_addr(mac_addr)) {
 		rtl838x_set_mac_hw(dev, mac_addr);
 	} else {