diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/davicom/dm9000.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/davicom/dm9000.c
index 1ea3372775e6..e94ae9b94dbf 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/davicom/dm9000.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/davicom/dm9000.c
@@ -1405,6 +1405,8 @@ static struct dm9000_plat_data *dm9000_parse_dt(struct device *dev)
 	mac_addr = of_get_mac_address(np);
 	if (!IS_ERR(mac_addr))
 		ether_addr_copy(pdata->dev_addr, mac_addr);
+	else if (PTR_ERR(mac_addr) == -EPROBE_DEFER)
+		return ERR_CAST(mac_addr);
 
 	return pdata;
 }