diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/realtek/r8169_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/realtek/r8169_main.c
index d4345493fdba..249b68d00d79 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/realtek/r8169_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/realtek/r8169_main.c
@@ -680,6 +680,7 @@ struct rtl8169_private {
 	struct rtl8169_counters *counters;
 	struct rtl8169_tc_offsets tc_offset;
 	u32 saved_wolopts;
+	int eee_adv;
 
 	const char *fw_name;
 	struct rtl_fw *rtl_fw;
@@ -2101,6 +2102,10 @@ static int rtl8169_set_eee(struct net_device *dev, struct ethtool_eee *data)
 	}
 
 	ret = phy_ethtool_set_eee(tp->phydev, data);
+
+	if (!ret)
+		tp->eee_adv = phy_read_mmd(dev->phydev, MDIO_MMD_AN,
+					   MDIO_AN_EEE_ADV);
 out:
 	pm_runtime_put_noidle(d);
 	return ret;
@@ -2131,10 +2136,16 @@ static const struct ethtool_ops rtl8169_ethtool_ops = {
 static void rtl_enable_eee(struct rtl8169_private *tp)
 {
 	struct phy_device *phydev = tp->phydev;
-	int supported = phy_read_mmd(phydev, MDIO_MMD_PCS, MDIO_PCS_EEE_ABLE);
+	int adv;
 
-	if (supported > 0)
-		phy_write_mmd(phydev, MDIO_MMD_AN, MDIO_AN_EEE_ADV, supported);
+	/* respect EEE advertisement the user may have set */
+	if (tp->eee_adv >= 0)
+		adv = tp->eee_adv;
+	else
+		adv = phy_read_mmd(phydev, MDIO_MMD_PCS, MDIO_PCS_EEE_ABLE);
+
+	if (adv >= 0)
+		phy_write_mmd(phydev, MDIO_MMD_AN, MDIO_AN_EEE_ADV, adv);
 }
 
 static void rtl8169_get_mac_version(struct rtl8169_private *tp)
@@ -6719,6 +6730,7 @@ static int rtl_init_one(struct pci_dev *pdev, const struct pci_device_id *ent)
 	tp->pci_dev = pdev;
 	tp->msg_enable = netif_msg_init(debug.msg_enable, R8169_MSG_DEFAULT);
 	tp->supports_gmii = ent->driver_data == RTL_CFG_NO_GBIT ? 0 : 1;
+	tp->eee_adv = -1;
 
 	/* Get the *optional* external "ether_clk" used on some boards */
 	rc = rtl_get_ether_clk(tp);