diff --git a/drivers/s390/net/qeth_l2_main.c b/drivers/s390/net/qeth_l2_main.c
index 810d69bd9991..a7cb37da6a21 100644
--- a/drivers/s390/net/qeth_l2_main.c
+++ b/drivers/s390/net/qeth_l2_main.c
@@ -439,7 +439,6 @@ static int qeth_l2_process_inbound_buffer(struct qeth_card *card,
 static int qeth_l2_request_initial_mac(struct qeth_card *card)
 {
 	int rc = 0;
-	char vendor_pre[] = {0x02, 0x00, 0x00};
 
 	QETH_DBF_TEXT(SETUP, 2, "l2reqmac");
 	QETH_DBF_TEXT_(SETUP, 2, "doL2%s", CARD_BUS_ID(card));
@@ -459,16 +458,20 @@ static int qeth_l2_request_initial_mac(struct qeth_card *card)
 	    card->info.type == QETH_CARD_TYPE_OSX ||
 	    card->info.guestlan) {
 		rc = qeth_setadpparms_change_macaddr(card);
-		if (rc) {
-			QETH_DBF_MESSAGE(2, "couldn't get MAC address on "
-				"device %s: x%x\n", CARD_BUS_ID(card), rc);
-			QETH_DBF_TEXT_(SETUP, 2, "1err%04x", rc);
-			return rc;
-		}
-	} else {
-		eth_random_addr(card->dev->dev_addr);
-		memcpy(card->dev->dev_addr, vendor_pre, 3);
+		if (!rc)
+			goto out;
+		QETH_DBF_MESSAGE(2, "READ_MAC Assist failed on device %s: x%x\n",
+				 CARD_BUS_ID(card), rc);
+		QETH_DBF_TEXT_(SETUP, 2, "1err%04x", rc);
+		/* fall back once more: */
 	}
+
+	/* some devices don't support a custom MAC address: */
+	if (card->info.type == QETH_CARD_TYPE_OSM ||
+	    card->info.type == QETH_CARD_TYPE_OSX)
+		return (rc) ? rc : -EADDRNOTAVAIL;
+	eth_hw_addr_random(card->dev);
+
 out:
 	QETH_DBF_HEX(SETUP, 2, card->dev->dev_addr, card->dev->addr_len);
 	return 0;