diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/sun/niu.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/sun/niu.c
index 6f99437a6962..0bc5863bffeb 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/sun/niu.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/sun/niu.c
@@ -1217,8 +1217,6 @@ static int link_status_1g_rgmii(struct niu *np, int *link_up_p)
 
 	spin_lock_irqsave(&np->lock, flags);
 
-	err = -EINVAL;
-
 	err = mii_read(np, np->phy_addr, MII_BMSR);
 	if (err < 0)
 		goto out;