diff --git a/drivers/net/phy/mdio_bus.c b/drivers/net/phy/mdio_bus.c
index 4eaadcfcb0fe..50051f271b10 100644
--- a/drivers/net/phy/mdio_bus.c
+++ b/drivers/net/phy/mdio_bus.c
@@ -553,8 +553,14 @@ static ssize_t
 phy_interface_show(struct device *dev, struct device_attribute *attr, char *buf)
 {
 	struct phy_device *phydev = to_phy_device(dev);
+	const char *mode = NULL;
 
-	return sprintf(buf, "%s\n", phy_modes(phydev->interface));
+	if (phy_is_internal(phydev))
+		mode = "internal";
+	else
+		mode = phy_modes(phydev->interface);
+
+	return sprintf(buf, "%s\n", mode);
 }
 static DEVICE_ATTR_RO(phy_interface);