diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/igc/igc_ethtool.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/igc/igc_ethtool.c
index f3e7218ba6f3..ca93629b1d3a 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/igc/igc_ethtool.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/igc/igc_ethtool.c
@@ -2094,6 +2094,9 @@ static void igc_ethtool_diag_test(struct net_device *netdev,
 		netdev_info(adapter->netdev, "Offline testing starting");
 		set_bit(__IGC_TESTING, &adapter->state);
 
+		/* power up PHY for link test */
+		igc_power_up_phy_copper(&adapter->hw);
+
 		/* Link test performed before hardware reset so autoneg doesn't
 		 * interfere with test result
 		 */