diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/tg3.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/tg3.c
index caa7a6caa6e2..8b6806a79edf 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/tg3.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/tg3.c
@@ -17915,11 +17915,14 @@ static int tg3_init_one(struct pci_dev *pdev,
 
 	err = tg3_get_device_address(tp, addr);
 	if (err) {
-		dev_err(&pdev->dev,
-			"Could not obtain valid ethernet address, aborting\n");
-		goto err_out_apeunmap;
+		dev_warn_probe(&pdev->dev, err,
+			       "Could not obtain a valid ethernet address\n");
+		if (err == -EPROBE_DEFER)
+			goto err_out_apeunmap;
+		eth_hw_addr_random(dev);
+	} else {
+		eth_hw_addr_set(dev, addr);
 	}
-	eth_hw_addr_set(dev, addr);
 
 	intmbx = MAILBOX_INTERRUPT_0 + TG3_64BIT_REG_LOW;
 	rcvmbx = MAILBOX_RCVRET_CON_IDX_0 + TG3_64BIT_REG_LOW;