diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/cadence/macb_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/cadence/macb_main.c
index 9be28b4fddb8..0e75339fa206 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/cadence/macb_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/cadence/macb_main.c
@@ -4329,8 +4329,8 @@ static int macb_taprio_setup_replace(struct net_device *netdev,
 	}
 
 	speed = kset.base.speed;
-	if (unlikely(speed <= 0)) {
-		netdev_err(netdev, "Invalid speed: %d\n", speed);
+	if (unlikely(speed == SPEED_UNKNOWN || !speed)) {
+		netdev_err(netdev, "Invalid speed %d, link-down?\n", speed);
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}