diff --git a/drivers/net/phy/smsc.c b/drivers/net/phy/smsc.c
index 6d6192316b30..88e3991464e7 100644
--- a/drivers/net/phy/smsc.c
+++ b/drivers/net/phy/smsc.c
@@ -56,6 +56,32 @@ static int smsc_phy_config_init(struct phy_device *phydev)
 	return smsc_phy_ack_interrupt (phydev);
 }
 
+static int lan87xx_config_init(struct phy_device *phydev)
+{
+	/*
+	 * Make sure the EDPWRDOWN bit is NOT set. Setting this bit on
+	 * LAN8710/LAN8720 PHY causes the PHY to misbehave, likely due
+	 * to a bug on the chip.
+	 *
+	 * When the system is powered on with the network cable being
+	 * disconnected all the way until after ifconfig ethX up is
+	 * issued for the LAN port with this PHY, connecting the cable
+	 * afterwards does not cause LINK change detection, while the
+	 * expected behavior is the Link UP being detected.
+	 */
+	int rc = phy_read(phydev, MII_LAN83C185_CTRL_STATUS);
+	if (rc < 0)
+		return rc;
+
+	rc &= ~MII_LAN83C185_EDPWRDOWN;
+
+	rc = phy_write(phydev, MII_LAN83C185_CTRL_STATUS, rc);
+	if (rc < 0)
+		return rc;
+
+	return smsc_phy_ack_interrupt(phydev);
+}
+
 static int lan911x_config_init(struct phy_device *phydev)
 {
 	return smsc_phy_ack_interrupt(phydev);
@@ -162,7 +188,7 @@ static struct phy_driver smsc_phy_driver[] = {
 	/* basic functions */
 	.config_aneg	= genphy_config_aneg,
 	.read_status	= genphy_read_status,
-	.config_init	= smsc_phy_config_init,
+	.config_init	= lan87xx_config_init,
 
 	/* IRQ related */
 	.ack_interrupt	= smsc_phy_ack_interrupt,