diff --git a/drivers/phy/phy-core.c b/drivers/phy/phy-core.c
index cbdad65d2caa..d93ddf1262c5 100644
--- a/drivers/phy/phy-core.c
+++ b/drivers/phy/phy-core.c
@@ -253,6 +253,9 @@ int phy_init(struct phy *phy)
 	ret = 0; /* Override possible ret == -ENOTSUPP */
 
 	mutex_lock(&phy->mutex);
+	if (phy->power_count > phy->init_count)
+		dev_warn(&phy->dev, "phy_power_on was called before phy_init\n");
+
 	if (phy->init_count == 0 && phy->ops->init) {
 		ret = phy->ops->init(phy);
 		if (ret < 0) {