diff --git a/board/qca/arm/common/cmd_bootqca.c b/board/qca/arm/common/cmd_bootqca.c
index ca6049b9ac..0cdf3807c5 100644
--- a/board/qca/arm/common/cmd_bootqca.c
+++ b/board/qca/arm/common/cmd_bootqca.c
@@ -160,6 +160,11 @@ void dump_func(void)
 {
 	uint64_t etime;
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_IPQ_ETH_INIT_DEFER
+	puts("\nNet:   ");
+	eth_initialize();
+#endif
+
 	etime = get_timer_masked() + (10 * CONFIG_SYS_HZ);
 	printf("\nCrashdump magic found."
 		"\nHit any key within 10s to stop dump activity...");
diff --git a/common/autoboot.c b/common/autoboot.c
index c11fb31236..49bc024602 100644
--- a/common/autoboot.c
+++ b/common/autoboot.c
@@ -271,7 +271,12 @@ static int abortboot_normal(int bootdelay)
 	if (abort)
 		gd->flags &= ~GD_FLG_SILENT;
 #endif
-
+#ifdef CONFIG_IPQ_ETH_INIT_DEFER
+	if (abort) {
+		puts("\nNet:   ");
+		eth_initialize();
+	}
+#endif
 	return abort;
 }
 # endif	/* CONFIG_AUTOBOOT_KEYED */
diff --git a/common/board_r.c b/common/board_r.c
index 75ee43e2d7..44ac8ed6be 100644
--- a/common/board_r.c
+++ b/common/board_r.c
@@ -634,8 +634,10 @@ static int initr_bbmii(void)
 #ifdef CONFIG_CMD_NET
 static int initr_net(void)
 {
+#if !defined(CONFIG_IPQ_ETH_INIT_DEFER)
 	puts("Net:   ");
 	eth_initialize();
+#endif
 #if defined(CONFIG_RESET_PHY_R)
 	debug("Reset Ethernet PHY\n");
 	reset_phy();
diff --git a/include/configs/ipq807x.h b/include/configs/ipq807x.h
index ffc7322e7f..b7a67e343f 100644
--- a/include/configs/ipq807x.h
+++ b/include/configs/ipq807x.h
@@ -266,6 +266,7 @@ extern loff_t board_env_offset;
 #define CONFIG_CMD_TFTPPUT
 #define CONFIG_IPQ_MDIO			1
 #define CONFIG_QCA8075_PHY		1
+#define CONFIG_IPQ_ETH_INIT_DEFER
 
 /*
  * CRASH DUMP ENABLE
diff --git a/net/eth.c b/net/eth.c
index 45fe6e3c1c..3d9739522d 100644
--- a/net/eth.c
+++ b/net/eth.c
@@ -167,6 +167,11 @@ struct udevice *eth_get_dev(void)
 
 	uc_priv = eth_get_uclass_priv();
 	if (!uc_priv->current)
+#ifdef CONFIG_IPQ_ETH_INIT_DEFER
+		eth_initialize();
+		/* Wait 3s for link to settle down */
+		mdelay(3000);
+#endif
 		eth_errno = uclass_first_device(UCLASS_ETH,
 				    &uc_priv->current);
 	return uc_priv->current;