diff --git a/hw/net/stellaris_enet.c b/hw/net/stellaris_enet.c
index 957730e023..04bd10ada3 100644
--- a/hw/net/stellaris_enet.c
+++ b/hw/net/stellaris_enet.c
@@ -416,7 +416,10 @@ static void stellaris_enet_write(void *opaque, hwaddr offset,
         s->thr = value;
         break;
     case 0x20: /* MCTL */
-        s->mctl = value;
+        /* TODO: MII registers aren't modelled.
+         * Clear START, indicating that the operation completes immediately.
+         */
+        s->mctl = value & ~1;
         break;
     case 0x24: /* MDV */
         s->mdv = value;