--- a/drivers/net/arm/ixp4xx_eth.c
+++ b/drivers/net/arm/ixp4xx_eth.c
@@ -396,6 +396,50 @@ static void ixp4xx_adjust_link(struct ne
 	       dev->name, port->speed, port->duplex ? "full" : "half");
 }
 
+static int ixp4xx_phy_connect(struct net_device *dev)
+{
+	struct port *port = netdev_priv(dev);
+	struct eth_plat_info *plat = port->plat;
+	char phy_id[MII_BUS_ID_SIZE + 3];
+
+	snprintf(phy_id, MII_BUS_ID_SIZE + 3, PHY_ID_FMT, "0", plat->phy);
+	port->phydev = phy_connect(dev, phy_id, &ixp4xx_adjust_link, 0,
+				   PHY_INTERFACE_MODE_MII);
+	if (IS_ERR(port->phydev)) {
+		printk(KERN_ERR "%s: Could not attach to PHY\n", dev->name);
+		return PTR_ERR(port->phydev);
+	}
+
+	/* mask with MAC supported features */
+	port->phydev->supported &= PHY_BASIC_FEATURES;
+	port->phydev->advertising = port->phydev->supported;
+
+	port->phydev->irq = PHY_POLL;
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static void ixp4xx_phy_disconnect(struct net_device *dev)
+{
+	struct port *port = netdev_priv(dev);
+
+	phy_disconnect(port->phydev);
+}
+
+static void ixp4xx_phy_start(struct net_device *dev)
+{
+	struct port *port = netdev_priv(dev);
+
+	port->speed = 0;	/* force "link up" message */
+	phy_start(port->phydev);
+}
+
+static void ixp4xx_phy_stop(struct net_device *dev)
+{
+	struct port *port = netdev_priv(dev);
+
+	phy_stop(port->phydev);
+}
 
 static inline void debug_pkt(struct net_device *dev, const char *func,
 			     u8 *data, int len)
@@ -1005,8 +1049,7 @@ static int eth_open(struct net_device *d
 		return err;
 	}
 
-	port->speed = 0;	/* force "link up" message */
-	phy_start(port->phydev);
+	ixp4xx_phy_start(dev);
 
 	for (i = 0; i < ETH_ALEN; i++)
 		__raw_writel(dev->dev_addr[i], &port->regs->hw_addr[i]);
@@ -1127,7 +1170,7 @@ static int eth_close(struct net_device *
 		printk(KERN_CRIT "%s: unable to disable loopback\n",
 		       dev->name);
 
-	phy_stop(port->phydev);
+	ixp4xx_phy_stop(dev);
 
 	if (!ports_open)
 		qmgr_disable_irq(TXDONE_QUEUE);
@@ -1153,7 +1196,6 @@ static int __devinit eth_init_one(struct
 	struct net_device *dev;
 	struct eth_plat_info *plat = pdev->dev.platform_data;
 	u32 regs_phys;
-	char phy_id[MII_BUS_ID_SIZE + 3];
 	int err;
 
 	if (!(dev = alloc_etherdev(sizeof(struct port))))
@@ -1211,18 +1253,10 @@ static int __devinit eth_init_one(struct
 	__raw_writel(DEFAULT_CORE_CNTRL, &port->regs->core_control);
 	udelay(50);
 
-	snprintf(phy_id, MII_BUS_ID_SIZE + 3, PHY_ID_FMT, "0", plat->phy);
-	port->phydev = phy_connect(dev, phy_id, &ixp4xx_adjust_link, 0,
-				   PHY_INTERFACE_MODE_MII);
-	if ((err = IS_ERR(port->phydev)))
+	err = ixp4xx_phy_connect(dev);
+	if (err)
 		goto err_free_mem;
 
-	/* mask with MAC supported features */
-	port->phydev->supported &= PHY_BASIC_FEATURES;
-	port->phydev->advertising = port->phydev->supported;
-
-	port->phydev->irq = PHY_POLL;
-
 	if ((err = register_netdev(dev)))
 		goto err_phy_dis;
 
@@ -1232,7 +1266,7 @@ static int __devinit eth_init_one(struct
 	return 0;
 
 err_phy_dis:
-	phy_disconnect(port->phydev);
+	ixp4xx_phy_disconnect(port->phydev);
 err_free_mem:
 	npe_port_tab[NPE_ID(port->id)] = NULL;
 	platform_set_drvdata(pdev, NULL);
@@ -1250,7 +1284,7 @@ static int __devexit eth_remove_one(stru
 	struct port *port = netdev_priv(dev);
 
 	unregister_netdev(dev);
-	phy_disconnect(port->phydev);
+	ixp4xx_phy_disconnect(dev);
 	npe_port_tab[NPE_ID(port->id)] = NULL;
 	platform_set_drvdata(pdev, NULL);
 	npe_release(port->npe);
