diff --git a/drivers/pci/controller/dwc/pcie-designware-host.c b/drivers/pci/controller/dwc/pcie-designware-host.c
index fad0cbedefbc..a72406ef7e26 100644
--- a/drivers/pci/controller/dwc/pcie-designware-host.c
+++ b/drivers/pci/controller/dwc/pcie-designware-host.c
@@ -675,8 +675,13 @@ int dw_pcie_host_init(struct dw_pcie_rp *pp)
 			goto err_remove_edma;
 	}
 
-	/* Ignore errors, the link may come up later */
-	dw_pcie_wait_for_link(pci);
+	/*
+	 * Only fail on timeout error. Other errors indicate the device may
+	 * become available later, so continue without failing.
+	 */
+	ret = dw_pcie_wait_for_link(pci);
+	if (ret == -ETIMEDOUT)
+		goto err_stop_link;
 
 	ret = pci_host_probe(bridge);
 	if (ret)