diff --git a/drivers/net/phy/micrel.c b/drivers/net/phy/micrel.c
index 1d769322b059..2b8f8b7f1517 100644
--- a/drivers/net/phy/micrel.c
+++ b/drivers/net/phy/micrel.c
@@ -4029,7 +4029,7 @@ static int lan8841_config_intr(struct phy_device *phydev)
 
 	if (phydev->interrupts == PHY_INTERRUPT_ENABLED) {
 		err = phy_read(phydev, LAN8814_INTS);
-		if (err)
+		if (err < 0)
 			return err;
 
 		/* Enable / disable interrupts. It is OK to enable PTP interrupt
@@ -4045,6 +4045,14 @@ static int lan8841_config_intr(struct phy_device *phydev)
 			return err;
 
 		err = phy_read(phydev, LAN8814_INTS);
+		if (err < 0)
+			return err;
+
+		/* Getting a positive value doesn't mean that is an error, it
+		 * just indicates what was the status. Therefore make sure to
+		 * clear the value and say that there is no error.
+		 */
+		err = 0;
 	}
 
 	return err;