diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/octeon_ep/octep_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/octeon_ep/octep_main.c
index 7083c995d0c14..92ca3e502465b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/octeon_ep/octep_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/octeon_ep/octep_main.c
@@ -521,7 +521,7 @@ static int octep_open(struct net_device *netdev)
 	octep_oq_dbell_init(oct);
 
 	ret = octep_get_link_status(oct);
-	if (ret)
+	if (ret > 0)
 		octep_link_up(netdev);
 
 	return 0;