diff --git a/drivers/s390/net/qeth_core.h b/drivers/s390/net/qeth_core.h
index 97ef37b51068..e7646ce3d659 100644
--- a/drivers/s390/net/qeth_core.h
+++ b/drivers/s390/net/qeth_core.h
@@ -889,6 +889,7 @@ extern const struct attribute_group *qeth_generic_attr_groups[];
 extern const struct attribute_group *qeth_osn_attr_groups[];
 extern struct workqueue_struct *qeth_wq;
 
+int qeth_card_hw_is_reachable(struct qeth_card *);
 const char *qeth_get_cardname_short(struct qeth_card *);
 int qeth_realloc_buffer_pool(struct qeth_card *, int);
 int qeth_core_load_discipline(struct qeth_card *, enum qeth_discipline_id);
diff --git a/drivers/s390/net/qeth_core_main.c b/drivers/s390/net/qeth_core_main.c
index c0d6ba8655c7..fd22c811cbe1 100644
--- a/drivers/s390/net/qeth_core_main.c
+++ b/drivers/s390/net/qeth_core_main.c
@@ -73,6 +73,13 @@ static int qeth_init_qdio_out_buf(struct qeth_qdio_out_q *, int);
 struct workqueue_struct *qeth_wq;
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(qeth_wq);
 
+int qeth_card_hw_is_reachable(struct qeth_card *card)
+{
+	return (card->state == CARD_STATE_SOFTSETUP) ||
+		(card->state == CARD_STATE_UP);
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(qeth_card_hw_is_reachable);
+
 static void qeth_close_dev_handler(struct work_struct *work)
 {
 	struct qeth_card *card;
@@ -5790,6 +5797,7 @@ int qeth_core_ethtool_get_settings(struct net_device *netdev,
 	struct qeth_card *card = netdev->ml_priv;
 	enum qeth_link_types link_type;
 	struct carrier_info carrier_info;
+	int rc;
 	u32 speed;
 
 	if ((card->info.type == QETH_CARD_TYPE_IQD) || (card->info.guestlan))
@@ -5832,8 +5840,14 @@ int qeth_core_ethtool_get_settings(struct net_device *netdev,
 	/* Check if we can obtain more accurate information.	 */
 	/* If QUERY_CARD_INFO command is not supported or fails, */
 	/* just return the heuristics that was filled above.	 */
-	if (qeth_query_card_info(card, &carrier_info) != 0)
+	if (!qeth_card_hw_is_reachable(card))
+		return -ENODEV;
+	rc = qeth_query_card_info(card, &carrier_info);
+	if (rc == -EOPNOTSUPP) /* for old hardware, return heuristic */
 		return 0;
+	if (rc) /* report error from the hardware operation */
+		return rc;
+	/* on success, fill in the information got from the hardware */
 
 	netdev_dbg(netdev,
 	"card info: card_type=0x%02x, port_mode=0x%04x, port_speed=0x%08x\n",
diff --git a/drivers/s390/net/qeth_l2_sys.c b/drivers/s390/net/qeth_l2_sys.c
index ae1bc04b8653..59e3aa538b4d 100644
--- a/drivers/s390/net/qeth_l2_sys.c
+++ b/drivers/s390/net/qeth_l2_sys.c
@@ -5,17 +5,12 @@
 
 #include <linux/slab.h>
 #include <asm/ebcdic.h>
+#include "qeth_core.h"
 #include "qeth_l2.h"
 
 #define QETH_DEVICE_ATTR(_id, _name, _mode, _show, _store) \
 struct device_attribute dev_attr_##_id = __ATTR(_name, _mode, _show, _store)
 
-static int qeth_card_hw_is_reachable(struct qeth_card *card)
-{
-	return (card->state == CARD_STATE_SOFTSETUP) ||
-		(card->state == CARD_STATE_UP);
-}
-
 static ssize_t qeth_bridge_port_role_state_show(struct device *dev,
 				struct device_attribute *attr, char *buf,
 				int show_state)