diff --git a/arch/arm/src/stm32h7/stm32_ethernet.c b/arch/arm/src/stm32h7/stm32_ethernet.c
index bda84f897a3..1c88e21ad98 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/stm32h7/stm32_ethernet.c
+++ b/arch/arm/src/stm32h7/stm32_ethernet.c
@@ -3696,7 +3696,7 @@ static int stm32_phyinit(struct stm32_ethmac_s *priv)
   if (to <= 0)
     {
       nerr("ERROR: Phy reset timeout\n");
-      return ret;
+      return -ETIMEDOUT;
     }
   else
     {