diff --git a/drivers/net/gianfar.c b/drivers/net/gianfar.c
index 4320a983a588..b5bb7ae2817f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/gianfar.c
+++ b/drivers/net/gianfar.c
@@ -339,6 +339,9 @@ static int gfar_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	/* Enable most messages by default */
 	priv->msg_enable = (NETIF_MSG_IFUP << 1 ) - 1;
 
+	/* Carrier starts down, phylib will bring it up */
+	netif_carrier_off(dev);
+
 	err = register_netdev(dev);
 
 	if (err) {