diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/allwinner/sun4i-emac.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/allwinner/sun4i-emac.c
index de2c4bf5fac4..6e31cb6aa720 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/allwinner/sun4i-emac.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/allwinner/sun4i-emac.c
@@ -77,7 +77,6 @@ struct emac_board_info {
 
 	int			emacrx_completed_flag;
 
-	struct phy_device	*phy_dev;
 	struct device_node	*phy_node;
 	unsigned int		link;
 	unsigned int		speed;
@@ -115,7 +114,7 @@ static void emac_update_duplex(struct net_device *dev)
 static void emac_handle_link_change(struct net_device *dev)
 {
 	struct emac_board_info *db = netdev_priv(dev);
-	struct phy_device *phydev = db->phy_dev;
+	struct phy_device *phydev = dev->phydev;
 	unsigned long flags;
 	int status_change = 0;
 
@@ -154,21 +153,22 @@ static void emac_handle_link_change(struct net_device *dev)
 static int emac_mdio_probe(struct net_device *dev)
 {
 	struct emac_board_info *db = netdev_priv(dev);
+	struct phy_device *phydev;
 
 	/* to-do: PHY interrupts are currently not supported */
 
 	/* attach the mac to the phy */
-	db->phy_dev = of_phy_connect(db->ndev, db->phy_node,
-				     &emac_handle_link_change, 0,
-				     db->phy_interface);
-	if (!db->phy_dev) {
+	phydev = of_phy_connect(db->ndev, db->phy_node,
+				&emac_handle_link_change, 0,
+				db->phy_interface);
+	if (!phydev) {
 		netdev_err(db->ndev, "could not find the PHY\n");
 		return -ENODEV;
 	}
 
 	/* mask with MAC supported features */
-	db->phy_dev->supported &= PHY_BASIC_FEATURES;
-	db->phy_dev->advertising = db->phy_dev->supported;
+	phydev->supported &= PHY_BASIC_FEATURES;
+	phydev->advertising = phydev->supported;
 
 	db->link = 0;
 	db->speed = 0;
@@ -179,10 +179,7 @@ static int emac_mdio_probe(struct net_device *dev)
 
 static void emac_mdio_remove(struct net_device *dev)
 {
-	struct emac_board_info *db = netdev_priv(dev);
-
-	phy_disconnect(db->phy_dev);
-	db->phy_dev = NULL;
+	phy_disconnect(dev->phydev);
 }
 
 static void emac_reset(struct emac_board_info *db)
@@ -208,8 +205,7 @@ static void emac_inblk_32bit(void __iomem *reg, void *data, int count)
 
 static int emac_ioctl(struct net_device *dev, struct ifreq *rq, int cmd)
 {
-	struct emac_board_info *dm = netdev_priv(dev);
-	struct phy_device *phydev = dm->phy_dev;
+	struct phy_device *phydev = dev->phydev;
 
 	if (!netif_running(dev))
 		return -EINVAL;
@@ -231,8 +227,7 @@ static void emac_get_drvinfo(struct net_device *dev,
 
 static int emac_get_settings(struct net_device *dev, struct ethtool_cmd *cmd)
 {
-	struct emac_board_info *dm = netdev_priv(dev);
-	struct phy_device *phydev = dm->phy_dev;
+	struct phy_device *phydev = dev->phydev;
 
 	if (!phydev)
 		return -ENODEV;
@@ -242,8 +237,7 @@ static int emac_get_settings(struct net_device *dev, struct ethtool_cmd *cmd)
 
 static int emac_set_settings(struct net_device *dev, struct ethtool_cmd *cmd)
 {
-	struct emac_board_info *dm = netdev_priv(dev);
-	struct phy_device *phydev = dm->phy_dev;
+	struct phy_device *phydev = dev->phydev;
 
 	if (!phydev)
 		return -ENODEV;
@@ -744,7 +738,7 @@ static int emac_open(struct net_device *dev)
 		return ret;
 	}
 
-	phy_start(db->phy_dev);
+	phy_start(dev->phydev);
 	netif_start_queue(dev);
 
 	return 0;
@@ -781,7 +775,7 @@ static int emac_stop(struct net_device *ndev)
 	netif_stop_queue(ndev);
 	netif_carrier_off(ndev);
 
-	phy_stop(db->phy_dev);
+	phy_stop(ndev->phydev);
 
 	emac_mdio_remove(ndev);