diff --git a/net/dsa/dsa2.c b/net/dsa/dsa2.c
index 873af0108e24..045d8a176279 100644
--- a/net/dsa/dsa2.c
+++ b/net/dsa/dsa2.c
@@ -496,14 +496,15 @@ static int dsa_cpu_parse(struct dsa_port *port, u32 index,
 		if (!ethernet)
 			return -EINVAL;
 		ethernet_dev = of_find_net_device_by_node(ethernet);
+		if (!ethernet_dev)
+			return -EPROBE_DEFER;
 	} else {
 		ethernet_dev = dsa_dev_to_net_device(ds->cd->netdev[index]);
+		if (!ethernet_dev)
+			return -EPROBE_DEFER;
 		dev_put(ethernet_dev);
 	}
 
-	if (!ethernet_dev)
-		return -EPROBE_DEFER;
-
 	if (!dst->cpu_dp) {
 		dst->cpu_dp = port;
 		dst->cpu_dp->netdev = ethernet_dev;