diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/amd/pcnet32.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/amd/pcnet32.c
index e2e3aaf501a2..11d6e6561df1 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/amd/pcnet32.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/amd/pcnet32.c
@@ -2806,7 +2806,7 @@ static void pcnet32_check_media(struct net_device *dev, int verbose)
 
 /*
  * Check for loss of link and link establishment.
- * Can not use mii_check_media because it does nothing if mode is forced.
+ * Could possibly be changed to use mii_check_media instead.
  */
 
 static void pcnet32_watchdog(struct net_device *dev)
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/via/via-rhine.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/via/via-rhine.c
index 0ac76102b33d..17e276651601 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/via/via-rhine.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/via/via-rhine.c
@@ -1326,7 +1326,8 @@ static void rhine_check_media(struct net_device *dev, unsigned int init_media)
 	struct rhine_private *rp = netdev_priv(dev);
 	void __iomem *ioaddr = rp->base;
 
-	mii_check_media(&rp->mii_if, netif_msg_link(rp), init_media);
+	if (!rp->mii_if.force_media)
+		mii_check_media(&rp->mii_if, netif_msg_link(rp), init_media);
 
 	if (rp->mii_if.full_duplex)
 	    iowrite8(ioread8(ioaddr + ChipCmd1) | Cmd1FDuplex,
diff --git a/drivers/net/mii.c b/drivers/net/mii.c
index 4a99c3919037..993570b1e2ae 100644
--- a/drivers/net/mii.c
+++ b/drivers/net/mii.c
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ void mii_check_link (struct mii_if_info *mii)
 }
 
 /**
- * mii_check_media - check the MII interface for a duplex change
+ * mii_check_media - check the MII interface for a carrier/speed/duplex change
  * @mii: the MII interface
  * @ok_to_print: OK to print link up/down messages
  * @init_media: OK to save duplex mode in @mii
@@ -318,10 +318,6 @@ unsigned int mii_check_media (struct mii_if_info *mii,
 	int advertise, lpa, media, duplex;
 	int lpa2 = 0;
 
-	/* if forced media, go no further */
-	if (mii->force_media)
-		return 0; /* duplex did not change */
-
 	/* check current and old link status */
 	old_carrier = netif_carrier_ok(mii->dev) ? 1 : 0;
 	new_carrier = (unsigned int) mii_link_ok(mii);
@@ -345,6 +341,12 @@ unsigned int mii_check_media (struct mii_if_info *mii,
 	 */
 	netif_carrier_on(mii->dev);
 
+	if (mii->force_media) {
+		if (ok_to_print)
+			netdev_info(mii->dev, "link up\n");
+		return 0; /* duplex did not change */
+	}
+
 	/* get MII advertise and LPA values */
 	if ((!init_media) && (mii->advertising))
 		advertise = mii->advertising;