diff --git a/arch/arm/src/stm32h5/stm32_ethernet.c b/arch/arm/src/stm32h5/stm32_ethernet.c
index 37d84506e08..e9bdd23d830 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/stm32h5/stm32_ethernet.c
+++ b/arch/arm/src/stm32h5/stm32_ethernet.c
@@ -3230,7 +3230,7 @@ static int stm32_phyinit(struct stm32_ethmac_s *priv)
   if (to <= 0)
     {
       nerr("ERROR: Phy reset timeout\n");
-      return ret;
+      return -ETIMEDOUT;
     }
   else
     {