--- a/sys/dev/netif/ig_hal/e1000_82575.c
+++ b/sys/dev/netif/ig_hal/e1000_82575.c
@@ -832,6 +832,8 @@
 		/* When LPLU is enabled, we should disable SmartSpeed */
 		ret_val = phy->ops.read_reg(hw, IGP01E1000_PHY_PORT_CONFIG,
 					    &data);
+		if (ret_val)
+			goto out;
 		data &= ~IGP01E1000_PSCFR_SMART_SPEED;
 		ret_val = phy->ops.write_reg(hw, IGP01E1000_PHY_PORT_CONFIG,
 					     data);