diff --git a/arch/arm/mach-mvebu/kirkwood.c b/arch/arm/mach-mvebu/kirkwood.c
index ceaad6d5927e..06b1706595f4 100644
--- a/arch/arm/mach-mvebu/kirkwood.c
+++ b/arch/arm/mach-mvebu/kirkwood.c
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ static void __init kirkwood_dt_eth_fixup(void)
 		struct device_node *pnp = of_get_parent(np);
 		struct clk *clk;
 		struct property *pmac;
+		u8 tmpmac[ETH_ALEN];
 		void __iomem *io;
 		u8 *macaddr;
 		u32 reg;
@@ -93,7 +94,7 @@ static void __init kirkwood_dt_eth_fixup(void)
 
 		/* skip disabled nodes or nodes with valid MAC address*/
 		if (!of_device_is_available(pnp) ||
-		    !IS_ERR(of_get_mac_address(np)))
+		    !of_get_mac_address(np, tmpmac))
 			goto eth_fixup_skip;
 
 		clk = of_clk_get(pnp, 0);
diff --git a/arch/powerpc/sysdev/tsi108_dev.c b/arch/powerpc/sysdev/tsi108_dev.c
index 0baec82510b9..4c4a6efd5e5f 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/sysdev/tsi108_dev.c
+++ b/arch/powerpc/sysdev/tsi108_dev.c
@@ -73,7 +73,6 @@ static int __init tsi108_eth_of_init(void)
 		struct device_node *phy, *mdio;
 		hw_info tsi_eth_data;
 		const unsigned int *phy_id;
-		const void *mac_addr;
 		const phandle *ph;
 
 		memset(r, 0, sizeof(r));
@@ -101,9 +100,7 @@ static int __init tsi108_eth_of_init(void)
 			goto err;
 		}
 
-		mac_addr = of_get_mac_address(np);
-		if (!IS_ERR(mac_addr))
-			ether_addr_copy(tsi_eth_data.mac_addr, mac_addr);
+		of_get_mac_address(np, tsi_eth_data.mac_addr);
 
 		ph = of_get_property(np, "mdio-handle", NULL);
 		mdio = of_find_node_by_phandle(*ph);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/aeroflex/greth.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/aeroflex/greth.c
index 9c5891bbfe61..d77fafbc1530 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/aeroflex/greth.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/aeroflex/greth.c
@@ -1449,10 +1449,10 @@ static int greth_of_probe(struct platform_device *ofdev)
 			break;
 	}
 	if (i == 6) {
-		const u8 *addr;
+		u8 addr[ETH_ALEN];
 
-		addr = of_get_mac_address(ofdev->dev.of_node);
-		if (!IS_ERR(addr)) {
+		err = of_get_mac_address(ofdev->dev.of_node, addr);
+		if (!err) {
 			for (i = 0; i < 6; i++)
 				macaddr[i] = (unsigned int) addr[i];
 		} else {
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/allwinner/sun4i-emac.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/allwinner/sun4i-emac.c
index 5ed80d9a6b9f..f99ae317c188 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/allwinner/sun4i-emac.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/allwinner/sun4i-emac.c
@@ -790,7 +790,6 @@ static int emac_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	struct emac_board_info *db;
 	struct net_device *ndev;
 	int ret = 0;
-	const char *mac_addr;
 
 	ndev = alloc_etherdev(sizeof(struct emac_board_info));
 	if (!ndev) {
@@ -853,12 +852,9 @@ static int emac_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	}
 
 	/* Read MAC-address from DT */
-	mac_addr = of_get_mac_address(np);
-	if (!IS_ERR(mac_addr))
-		ether_addr_copy(ndev->dev_addr, mac_addr);
-
-	/* Check if the MAC address is valid, if not get a random one */
-	if (!is_valid_ether_addr(ndev->dev_addr)) {
+	ret = of_get_mac_address(np, ndev->dev_addr);
+	if (ret) {
+		/* if the MAC address is invalid get a random one */
 		eth_hw_addr_random(ndev);
 		dev_warn(&pdev->dev, "using random MAC address %pM\n",
 			 ndev->dev_addr);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/altera/altera_tse_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/altera/altera_tse_main.c
index 907125abef2c..1c00d719e5d7 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/altera/altera_tse_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/altera/altera_tse_main.c
@@ -1351,7 +1351,6 @@ static int altera_tse_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	struct resource *control_port;
 	struct resource *dma_res;
 	struct altera_tse_private *priv;
-	const unsigned char *macaddr;
 	void __iomem *descmap;
 	const struct of_device_id *of_id = NULL;
 
@@ -1525,10 +1524,8 @@ static int altera_tse_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	priv->rx_dma_buf_sz = ALTERA_RXDMABUFFER_SIZE;
 
 	/* get default MAC address from device tree */
-	macaddr = of_get_mac_address(pdev->dev.of_node);
-	if (!IS_ERR(macaddr))
-		ether_addr_copy(ndev->dev_addr, macaddr);
-	else
+	ret = of_get_mac_address(pdev->dev.of_node, ndev->dev_addr);
+	if (ret)
 		eth_hw_addr_random(ndev);
 
 	/* get phy addr and create mdio */
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/arc/emac_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/arc/emac_main.c
index b56a9e2aecd9..67b8113a2b53 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/arc/emac_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/arc/emac_main.c
@@ -857,7 +857,6 @@ int arc_emac_probe(struct net_device *ndev, int interface)
 	struct device_node *phy_node;
 	struct phy_device *phydev = NULL;
 	struct arc_emac_priv *priv;
-	const char *mac_addr;
 	unsigned int id, clock_frequency, irq;
 	int err;
 
@@ -942,11 +941,8 @@ int arc_emac_probe(struct net_device *ndev, int interface)
 	}
 
 	/* Get MAC address from device tree */
-	mac_addr = of_get_mac_address(dev->of_node);
-
-	if (!IS_ERR(mac_addr))
-		ether_addr_copy(ndev->dev_addr, mac_addr);
-	else
+	err = of_get_mac_address(dev->of_node, ndev->dev_addr);
+	if (err)
 		eth_hw_addr_random(ndev);
 
 	arc_emac_set_address_internal(ndev);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/atheros/ag71xx.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/atheros/ag71xx.c
index 7352f98123c7..3a23b92ebfe3 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/atheros/ag71xx.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/atheros/ag71xx.c
@@ -1856,7 +1856,6 @@ static int ag71xx_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	const struct ag71xx_dcfg *dcfg;
 	struct net_device *ndev;
 	struct resource *res;
-	const void *mac_addr;
 	int tx_size, err, i;
 	struct ag71xx *ag;
 
@@ -1957,10 +1956,8 @@ static int ag71xx_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	ag->stop_desc->ctrl = 0;
 	ag->stop_desc->next = (u32)ag->stop_desc_dma;
 
-	mac_addr = of_get_mac_address(np);
-	if (!IS_ERR(mac_addr))
-		memcpy(ndev->dev_addr, mac_addr, ETH_ALEN);
-	if (IS_ERR(mac_addr) || !is_valid_ether_addr(ndev->dev_addr)) {
+	err = of_get_mac_address(np, ndev->dev_addr);
+	if (err) {
 		netif_err(ag, probe, ndev, "invalid MAC address, using random address\n");
 		eth_random_addr(ndev->dev_addr);
 	}
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bcm4908_enet.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bcm4908_enet.c
index b7afac5c7ca7..60d908507f51 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bcm4908_enet.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bcm4908_enet.c
@@ -686,7 +686,6 @@ static int bcm4908_enet_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	struct device *dev = &pdev->dev;
 	struct net_device *netdev;
 	struct bcm4908_enet *enet;
-	const u8 *mac;
 	int err;
 
 	netdev = devm_alloc_etherdev(dev, sizeof(*enet));
@@ -716,10 +715,8 @@ static int bcm4908_enet_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 		return err;
 
 	SET_NETDEV_DEV(netdev, &pdev->dev);
-	mac = of_get_mac_address(dev->of_node);
-	if (!IS_ERR(mac))
-		ether_addr_copy(netdev->dev_addr, mac);
-	else
+	err = of_get_mac_address(dev->of_node, netdev->dev_addr);
+	if (err)
 		eth_hw_addr_random(netdev);
 	netdev->netdev_ops = &bcm4908_enet_netdev_ops;
 	netdev->min_mtu = ETH_ZLEN;
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bcmsysport.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bcmsysport.c
index 777bbf6d2586..d9f0f0df8f7b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bcmsysport.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bcmsysport.c
@@ -2457,7 +2457,6 @@ static int bcm_sysport_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	struct bcm_sysport_priv *priv;
 	struct device_node *dn;
 	struct net_device *dev;
-	const void *macaddr;
 	u32 txq, rxq;
 	int ret;
 
@@ -2552,12 +2551,10 @@ static int bcm_sysport_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	}
 
 	/* Initialize netdevice members */
-	macaddr = of_get_mac_address(dn);
-	if (IS_ERR(macaddr)) {
+	ret = of_get_mac_address(dn, dev->dev_addr);
+	if (ret) {
 		dev_warn(&pdev->dev, "using random Ethernet MAC\n");
 		eth_hw_addr_random(dev);
-	} else {
-		ether_addr_copy(dev->dev_addr, macaddr);
 	}
 
 	SET_NETDEV_DEV(dev, &pdev->dev);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bgmac-bcma.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bgmac-bcma.c
index a5fd161ab5ee..85fa0ab7201c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bgmac-bcma.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bgmac-bcma.c
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ static int bgmac_probe(struct bcma_device *core)
 	struct ssb_sprom *sprom = &core->bus->sprom;
 	struct mii_bus *mii_bus;
 	struct bgmac *bgmac;
-	const u8 *mac = NULL;
+	const u8 *mac;
 	int err;
 
 	bgmac = bgmac_alloc(&core->dev);
@@ -128,11 +128,10 @@ static int bgmac_probe(struct bcma_device *core)
 
 	bcma_set_drvdata(core, bgmac);
 
-	if (bgmac->dev->of_node)
-		mac = of_get_mac_address(bgmac->dev->of_node);
+	err = of_get_mac_address(bgmac->dev->of_node, bgmac->net_dev->dev_addr);
 
 	/* If no MAC address assigned via device tree, check SPROM */
-	if (IS_ERR_OR_NULL(mac)) {
+	if (err) {
 		switch (core->core_unit) {
 		case 0:
 			mac = sprom->et0mac;
@@ -149,10 +148,9 @@ static int bgmac_probe(struct bcma_device *core)
 			err = -ENOTSUPP;
 			goto err;
 		}
+		ether_addr_copy(bgmac->net_dev->dev_addr, mac);
 	}
 
-	ether_addr_copy(bgmac->net_dev->dev_addr, mac);
-
 	/* On BCM4706 we need common core to access PHY */
 	if (core->id.id == BCMA_CORE_4706_MAC_GBIT &&
 	    !core->bus->drv_gmac_cmn.core) {
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bgmac-platform.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bgmac-platform.c
index f37f1c58f368..9834b77cf4b6 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bgmac-platform.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bgmac-platform.c
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ static int bgmac_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	struct device_node *np = pdev->dev.of_node;
 	struct bgmac *bgmac;
 	struct resource *regs;
-	const u8 *mac_addr;
+	int ret;
 
 	bgmac = bgmac_alloc(&pdev->dev);
 	if (!bgmac)
@@ -192,11 +192,10 @@ static int bgmac_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	bgmac->dev = &pdev->dev;
 	bgmac->dma_dev = &pdev->dev;
 
-	mac_addr = of_get_mac_address(np);
-	if (!IS_ERR(mac_addr))
-		ether_addr_copy(bgmac->net_dev->dev_addr, mac_addr);
-	else
-		dev_warn(&pdev->dev, "MAC address not present in device tree\n");
+	ret = of_get_mac_address(np, bgmac->net_dev->dev_addr);
+	if (ret)
+		dev_warn(&pdev->dev,
+			 "MAC address not present in device tree\n");
 
 	bgmac->irq = platform_get_irq(pdev, 0);
 	if (bgmac->irq < 0)
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/cadence/macb_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/cadence/macb_main.c
index ffd56a23f8b0..d6bde1748a22 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/cadence/macb_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/cadence/macb_main.c
@@ -4649,7 +4649,6 @@ static int macb_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	struct net_device *dev;
 	struct resource *regs;
 	void __iomem *mem;
-	const char *mac;
 	struct macb *bp;
 	int err, val;
 
@@ -4764,15 +4763,11 @@ static int macb_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	if (bp->caps & MACB_CAPS_NEEDS_RSTONUBR)
 		bp->rx_intr_mask |= MACB_BIT(RXUBR);
 
-	mac = of_get_mac_address(np);
-	if (PTR_ERR(mac) == -EPROBE_DEFER) {
-		err = -EPROBE_DEFER;
+	err = of_get_mac_address(np, bp->dev->dev_addr);
+	if (err == -EPROBE_DEFER)
 		goto err_out_free_netdev;
-	} else if (!IS_ERR_OR_NULL(mac)) {
-		ether_addr_copy(bp->dev->dev_addr, mac);
-	} else {
+	else if (err)
 		macb_get_hwaddr(bp);
-	}
 
 	err = of_get_phy_mode(np, &interface);
 	if (err)
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/octeon/octeon_mgmt.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/octeon/octeon_mgmt.c
index ecffebd513be..48ff6fb0eed9 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/octeon/octeon_mgmt.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/octeon/octeon_mgmt.c
@@ -1385,7 +1385,6 @@ static int octeon_mgmt_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	struct net_device *netdev;
 	struct octeon_mgmt *p;
 	const __be32 *data;
-	const u8 *mac;
 	struct resource *res_mix;
 	struct resource *res_agl;
 	struct resource *res_agl_prt_ctl;
@@ -1502,11 +1501,8 @@ static int octeon_mgmt_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	netdev->min_mtu = 64 - OCTEON_MGMT_RX_HEADROOM;
 	netdev->max_mtu = 16383 - OCTEON_MGMT_RX_HEADROOM - VLAN_HLEN;
 
-	mac = of_get_mac_address(pdev->dev.of_node);
-
-	if (!IS_ERR(mac))
-		ether_addr_copy(netdev->dev_addr, mac);
-	else
+	result = of_get_mac_address(pdev->dev.of_node, netdev->dev_addr);
+	if (result)
 		eth_hw_addr_random(netdev);
 
 	p->phy_np = of_parse_phandle(pdev->dev.of_node, "phy-handle", 0);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/thunder/thunder_bgx.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/thunder/thunder_bgx.c
index 8ff28ed04b7f..0c783aadf393 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/thunder/thunder_bgx.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/thunder/thunder_bgx.c
@@ -1474,7 +1474,6 @@ static int bgx_init_of_phy(struct bgx *bgx)
 	device_for_each_child_node(&bgx->pdev->dev, fwn) {
 		struct phy_device *pd;
 		struct device_node *phy_np;
-		const char *mac;
 
 		/* Should always be an OF node.  But if it is not, we
 		 * cannot handle it, so exit the loop.
@@ -1483,9 +1482,7 @@ static int bgx_init_of_phy(struct bgx *bgx)
 		if (!node)
 			break;
 
-		mac = of_get_mac_address(node);
-		if (!IS_ERR(mac))
-			ether_addr_copy(bgx->lmac[lmac].mac, mac);
+		of_get_mac_address(node, bgx->lmac[lmac].mac);
 
 		SET_NETDEV_DEV(&bgx->lmac[lmac].netdev, &bgx->pdev->dev);
 		bgx->lmac[lmac].lmacid = lmac;
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/davicom/dm9000.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/davicom/dm9000.c
index 252adfa5d837..2374c51bf2b2 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/davicom/dm9000.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/davicom/dm9000.c
@@ -1385,7 +1385,7 @@ static struct dm9000_plat_data *dm9000_parse_dt(struct device *dev)
 {
 	struct dm9000_plat_data *pdata;
 	struct device_node *np = dev->of_node;
-	const void *mac_addr;
+	int ret;
 
 	if (!IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_OF) || !np)
 		return ERR_PTR(-ENXIO);
@@ -1399,11 +1399,9 @@ static struct dm9000_plat_data *dm9000_parse_dt(struct device *dev)
 	if (of_find_property(np, "davicom,no-eeprom", NULL))
 		pdata->flags |= DM9000_PLATF_NO_EEPROM;
 
-	mac_addr = of_get_mac_address(np);
-	if (!IS_ERR(mac_addr))
-		ether_addr_copy(pdata->dev_addr, mac_addr);
-	else if (PTR_ERR(mac_addr) == -EPROBE_DEFER)
-		return ERR_CAST(mac_addr);
+	ret = of_get_mac_address(np, pdata->dev_addr);
+	if (ret == -EPROBE_DEFER)
+		return ERR_PTR(ret);
 
 	return pdata;
 }
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/ethoc.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/ethoc.c
index 3d9b0b161e24..e1b43b07755b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/ethoc.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/ethoc.c
@@ -1151,11 +1151,7 @@ static int ethoc_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 		ether_addr_copy(netdev->dev_addr, pdata->hwaddr);
 		priv->phy_id = pdata->phy_id;
 	} else {
-		const void *mac;
-
-		mac = of_get_mac_address(pdev->dev.of_node);
-		if (!IS_ERR(mac))
-			ether_addr_copy(netdev->dev_addr, mac);
+		of_get_mac_address(pdev->dev.of_node, netdev->dev_addr);
 		priv->phy_id = -1;
 	}
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/ezchip/nps_enet.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/ezchip/nps_enet.c
index 815fb62c4b02..e3954d8835e7 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/ezchip/nps_enet.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/ezchip/nps_enet.c
@@ -575,7 +575,6 @@ static s32 nps_enet_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	struct net_device *ndev;
 	struct nps_enet_priv *priv;
 	s32 err = 0;
-	const char *mac_addr;
 
 	if (!dev->of_node)
 		return -ENODEV;
@@ -602,10 +601,8 @@ static s32 nps_enet_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	dev_dbg(dev, "Registers base address is 0x%p\n", priv->regs_base);
 
 	/* set kernel MAC address to dev */
-	mac_addr = of_get_mac_address(dev->of_node);
-	if (!IS_ERR(mac_addr))
-		ether_addr_copy(ndev->dev_addr, mac_addr);
-	else
+	err = of_get_mac_address(dev->of_node, ndev->dev_addr);
+	if (err)
 		eth_hw_addr_random(ndev);
 
 	/* Get IRQ number */
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/fec_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/fec_main.c
index 70aea9c274fe..aecc111fbe73 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/fec_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/fec_main.c
@@ -1665,6 +1665,7 @@ static void fec_get_mac(struct net_device *ndev)
 {
 	struct fec_enet_private *fep = netdev_priv(ndev);
 	unsigned char *iap, tmpaddr[ETH_ALEN];
+	int ret;
 
 	/*
 	 * try to get mac address in following order:
@@ -1680,9 +1681,9 @@ static void fec_get_mac(struct net_device *ndev)
 	if (!is_valid_ether_addr(iap)) {
 		struct device_node *np = fep->pdev->dev.of_node;
 		if (np) {
-			const char *mac = of_get_mac_address(np);
-			if (!IS_ERR(mac))
-				iap = (unsigned char *) mac;
+			ret = of_get_mac_address(np, tmpaddr);
+			if (!ret)
+				iap = tmpaddr;
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/fec_mpc52xx.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/fec_mpc52xx.c
index b3bad429e03b..02c47658a215 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/fec_mpc52xx.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/fec_mpc52xx.c
@@ -813,7 +813,6 @@ static int mpc52xx_fec_probe(struct platform_device *op)
 	const u32 *prop;
 	int prop_size;
 	struct device_node *np = op->dev.of_node;
-	const char *mac_addr;
 
 	phys_addr_t rx_fifo;
 	phys_addr_t tx_fifo;
@@ -891,10 +890,8 @@ static int mpc52xx_fec_probe(struct platform_device *op)
 	 *
 	 * First try to read MAC address from DT
 	 */
-	mac_addr = of_get_mac_address(np);
-	if (!IS_ERR(mac_addr)) {
-		ether_addr_copy(ndev->dev_addr, mac_addr);
-	} else {
+	rv = of_get_mac_address(np, ndev->dev_addr);
+	if (rv) {
 		struct mpc52xx_fec __iomem *fec = priv->fec;
 
 		/*
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/fman/mac.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/fman/mac.c
index 901749a7a318..46ecb42f2ef8 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/fman/mac.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/fman/mac.c
@@ -605,7 +605,6 @@ static int mac_probe(struct platform_device *_of_dev)
 	struct platform_device	*of_dev;
 	struct resource		 res;
 	struct mac_priv_s	*priv;
-	const u8		*mac_addr;
 	u32			 val;
 	u8			fman_id;
 	phy_interface_t          phy_if;
@@ -723,11 +722,9 @@ static int mac_probe(struct platform_device *_of_dev)
 	priv->cell_index = (u8)val;
 
 	/* Get the MAC address */
-	mac_addr = of_get_mac_address(mac_node);
-	if (IS_ERR(mac_addr))
+	err = of_get_mac_address(mac_node, mac_dev->addr);
+	if (err)
 		dev_warn(dev, "of_get_mac_address(%pOF) failed\n", mac_node);
-	else
-		ether_addr_copy(mac_dev->addr, mac_addr);
 
 	/* Get the port handles */
 	nph = of_count_phandle_with_args(mac_node, "fsl,fman-ports", NULL);
@@ -853,7 +850,7 @@ static int mac_probe(struct platform_device *_of_dev)
 	if (err < 0)
 		dev_err(dev, "fman_set_mac_active_pause() = %d\n", err);
 
-	if (!IS_ERR(mac_addr))
+	if (!is_zero_ether_addr(mac_dev->addr))
 		dev_info(dev, "FMan MAC address: %pM\n", mac_dev->addr);
 
 	priv->eth_dev = dpaa_eth_add_device(fman_id, mac_dev);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/fs_enet/fs_enet-main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/fs_enet/fs_enet-main.c
index 78e008b81374..6ee325ad35c5 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/fs_enet/fs_enet-main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/fs_enet/fs_enet-main.c
@@ -918,7 +918,6 @@ static int fs_enet_probe(struct platform_device *ofdev)
 	const u32 *data;
 	struct clk *clk;
 	int err;
-	const u8 *mac_addr;
 	const char *phy_connection_type;
 	int privsize, len, ret = -ENODEV;
 
@@ -1006,9 +1005,7 @@ static int fs_enet_probe(struct platform_device *ofdev)
 	spin_lock_init(&fep->lock);
 	spin_lock_init(&fep->tx_lock);
 
-	mac_addr = of_get_mac_address(ofdev->dev.of_node);
-	if (!IS_ERR(mac_addr))
-		ether_addr_copy(ndev->dev_addr, mac_addr);
+	of_get_mac_address(ofdev->dev.of_node, ndev->dev_addr);
 
 	ret = fep->ops->allocate_bd(ndev);
 	if (ret)
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/gianfar.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/gianfar.c
index 3ec4d9fddd52..339f9567ef9d 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/gianfar.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/gianfar.c
@@ -640,7 +640,6 @@ static phy_interface_t gfar_get_interface(struct net_device *dev)
 static int gfar_of_init(struct platform_device *ofdev, struct net_device **pdev)
 {
 	const char *model;
-	const void *mac_addr;
 	int err = 0, i;
 	phy_interface_t interface;
 	struct net_device *dev = NULL;
@@ -782,11 +781,8 @@ static int gfar_of_init(struct platform_device *ofdev, struct net_device **pdev)
 	if (stash_len || stash_idx)
 		priv->device_flags |= FSL_GIANFAR_DEV_HAS_BUF_STASHING;
 
-	mac_addr = of_get_mac_address(np);
-
-	if (!IS_ERR(mac_addr)) {
-		ether_addr_copy(dev->dev_addr, mac_addr);
-	} else {
+	err = of_get_mac_address(np, dev->dev_addr);
+	if (err) {
 		eth_hw_addr_random(dev);
 		dev_info(&ofdev->dev, "Using random MAC address: %pM\n", dev->dev_addr);
 	}
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/ucc_geth.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/ucc_geth.c
index ef4e2febeb5b..e0936510fa34 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/ucc_geth.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/ucc_geth.c
@@ -3562,7 +3562,6 @@ static int ucc_geth_probe(struct platform_device* ofdev)
 	struct resource res;
 	int err, ucc_num, max_speed = 0;
 	const unsigned int *prop;
-	const void *mac_addr;
 	phy_interface_t phy_interface;
 	static const int enet_to_speed[] = {
 		SPEED_10, SPEED_10, SPEED_10,
@@ -3733,9 +3732,7 @@ static int ucc_geth_probe(struct platform_device* ofdev)
 		goto err_free_netdev;
 	}
 
-	mac_addr = of_get_mac_address(np);
-	if (!IS_ERR(mac_addr))
-		ether_addr_copy(dev->dev_addr, mac_addr);
+	of_get_mac_address(np, dev->dev_addr);
 
 	ugeth->ug_info = ug_info;
 	ugeth->dev = device;
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/hisilicon/hisi_femac.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/hisilicon/hisi_femac.c
index 57c3bc4f7089..3c4db4a6b431 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/hisilicon/hisi_femac.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/hisilicon/hisi_femac.c
@@ -772,7 +772,6 @@ static int hisi_femac_drv_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	struct net_device *ndev;
 	struct hisi_femac_priv *priv;
 	struct phy_device *phy;
-	const char *mac_addr;
 	int ret;
 
 	ndev = alloc_etherdev(sizeof(*priv));
@@ -842,10 +841,8 @@ static int hisi_femac_drv_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 			   (unsigned long)phy->phy_id,
 			   phy_modes(phy->interface));
 
-	mac_addr = of_get_mac_address(node);
-	if (!IS_ERR(mac_addr))
-		ether_addr_copy(ndev->dev_addr, mac_addr);
-	if (!is_valid_ether_addr(ndev->dev_addr)) {
+	ret = of_get_mac_address(node, ndev->dev_addr);
+	if (ret) {
 		eth_hw_addr_random(ndev);
 		dev_warn(dev, "using random MAC address %pM\n",
 			 ndev->dev_addr);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/hisilicon/hix5hd2_gmac.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/hisilicon/hix5hd2_gmac.c
index 8b2bf85039f1..c1aae0fca5e9 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/hisilicon/hix5hd2_gmac.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/hisilicon/hix5hd2_gmac.c
@@ -1098,7 +1098,6 @@ static int hix5hd2_dev_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	struct net_device *ndev;
 	struct hix5hd2_priv *priv;
 	struct mii_bus *bus;
-	const char *mac_addr;
 	int ret;
 
 	ndev = alloc_etherdev(sizeof(struct hix5hd2_priv));
@@ -1220,10 +1219,8 @@ static int hix5hd2_dev_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 		goto out_phy_node;
 	}
 
-	mac_addr = of_get_mac_address(node);
-	if (!IS_ERR(mac_addr))
-		ether_addr_copy(ndev->dev_addr, mac_addr);
-	if (!is_valid_ether_addr(ndev->dev_addr)) {
+	ret = of_get_mac_address(node, ndev->dev_addr);
+	if (ret) {
 		eth_hw_addr_random(ndev);
 		netdev_warn(ndev, "using random MAC address %pM\n",
 			    ndev->dev_addr);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/lantiq_xrx200.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/lantiq_xrx200.c
index 0f8ef8f1232c..41c2ad210bc9 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/lantiq_xrx200.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/lantiq_xrx200.c
@@ -435,7 +435,6 @@ static int xrx200_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	struct resource *res;
 	struct xrx200_priv *priv;
 	struct net_device *net_dev;
-	const u8 *mac;
 	int err;
 
 	/* alloc the network device */
@@ -477,10 +476,8 @@ static int xrx200_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 		return PTR_ERR(priv->clk);
 	}
 
-	mac = of_get_mac_address(np);
-	if (!IS_ERR(mac))
-		ether_addr_copy(net_dev->dev_addr, mac);
-	else
+	err = of_get_mac_address(np, net_dev->dev_addr);
+	if (err)
 		eth_hw_addr_random(net_dev);
 
 	/* bring up the dma engine and IP core */
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/mv643xx_eth.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/mv643xx_eth.c
index ca1681aa951a..d207bfcaf31d 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/mv643xx_eth.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/mv643xx_eth.c
@@ -2702,7 +2702,6 @@ static int mv643xx_eth_shared_of_add_port(struct platform_device *pdev,
 	struct platform_device *ppdev;
 	struct mv643xx_eth_platform_data ppd;
 	struct resource res;
-	const char *mac_addr;
 	int ret;
 	int dev_num = 0;
 
@@ -2733,9 +2732,7 @@ static int mv643xx_eth_shared_of_add_port(struct platform_device *pdev,
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
-	mac_addr = of_get_mac_address(pnp);
-	if (!IS_ERR(mac_addr))
-		ether_addr_copy(ppd.mac_addr, mac_addr);
+	of_get_mac_address(pnp, ppd.mac_addr);
 
 	mv643xx_eth_property(pnp, "tx-queue-size", ppd.tx_queue_size);
 	mv643xx_eth_property(pnp, "tx-sram-addr", ppd.tx_sram_addr);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/mvneta.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/mvneta.c
index f20dfd1d7a6b..7d5cd9bc6c99 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/mvneta.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/mvneta.c
@@ -5141,7 +5141,6 @@ static int mvneta_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	struct net_device *dev;
 	struct phylink *phylink;
 	struct phy *comphy;
-	const char *dt_mac_addr;
 	char hw_mac_addr[ETH_ALEN];
 	phy_interface_t phy_mode;
 	const char *mac_from;
@@ -5237,10 +5236,9 @@ static int mvneta_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 		goto err_free_ports;
 	}
 
-	dt_mac_addr = of_get_mac_address(dn);
-	if (!IS_ERR(dt_mac_addr)) {
+	err = of_get_mac_address(dn, dev->dev_addr);
+	if (!err) {
 		mac_from = "device tree";
-		ether_addr_copy(dev->dev_addr, dt_mac_addr);
 	} else {
 		mvneta_get_mac_addr(pp, hw_mac_addr);
 		if (is_valid_ether_addr(hw_mac_addr)) {
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/prestera/prestera_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/prestera/prestera_main.c
index 25dd903a3e92..f08c420a5803 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/prestera/prestera_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/prestera/prestera_main.c
@@ -456,20 +456,17 @@ static int prestera_switch_set_base_mac_addr(struct prestera_switch *sw)
 {
 	struct device_node *base_mac_np;
 	struct device_node *np;
-	const char *base_mac;
+	int ret;
 
 	np = of_find_compatible_node(NULL, NULL, "marvell,prestera");
 	base_mac_np = of_parse_phandle(np, "base-mac-provider", 0);
 
-	base_mac = of_get_mac_address(base_mac_np);
-	of_node_put(base_mac_np);
-	if (!IS_ERR(base_mac))
-		ether_addr_copy(sw->base_mac, base_mac);
-
-	if (!is_valid_ether_addr(sw->base_mac)) {
+	ret = of_get_mac_address(base_mac_np, sw->base_mac);
+	if (ret) {
 		eth_random_addr(sw->base_mac);
 		dev_info(prestera_dev(sw), "using random base mac address\n");
 	}
+	of_node_put(base_mac_np);
 
 	return prestera_hw_switch_mac_set(sw, sw->base_mac);
 }
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/pxa168_eth.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/pxa168_eth.c
index 3712e1786091..e967867828d8 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/pxa168_eth.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/pxa168_eth.c
@@ -1392,7 +1392,6 @@ static int pxa168_eth_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	struct resource *res;
 	struct clk *clk;
 	struct device_node *np;
-	const unsigned char *mac_addr = NULL;
 	int err;
 
 	printk(KERN_NOTICE "PXA168 10/100 Ethernet Driver\n");
@@ -1435,12 +1434,8 @@ static int pxa168_eth_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 
 	INIT_WORK(&pep->tx_timeout_task, pxa168_eth_tx_timeout_task);
 
-	if (pdev->dev.of_node)
-		mac_addr = of_get_mac_address(pdev->dev.of_node);
-
-	if (!IS_ERR_OR_NULL(mac_addr)) {
-		ether_addr_copy(dev->dev_addr, mac_addr);
-	} else {
+	err = of_get_mac_address(pdev->dev.of_node, dev->dev_addr);
+	if (err) {
 		/* try reading the mac address, if set by the bootloader */
 		pxa168_eth_get_mac_address(dev, dev->dev_addr);
 		if (!is_valid_ether_addr(dev->dev_addr)) {
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/sky2.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/sky2.c
index 68c154d715d6..222c32367b2c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/sky2.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/sky2.c
@@ -4728,7 +4728,7 @@ static struct net_device *sky2_init_netdev(struct sky2_hw *hw, unsigned port,
 {
 	struct sky2_port *sky2;
 	struct net_device *dev = alloc_etherdev(sizeof(*sky2));
-	const void *iap;
+	int ret;
 
 	if (!dev)
 		return NULL;
@@ -4798,10 +4798,8 @@ static struct net_device *sky2_init_netdev(struct sky2_hw *hw, unsigned port,
 	 * 1) from device tree data
 	 * 2) from internal registers set by bootloader
 	 */
-	iap = of_get_mac_address(hw->pdev->dev.of_node);
-	if (!IS_ERR(iap))
-		ether_addr_copy(dev->dev_addr, iap);
-	else
+	ret = of_get_mac_address(hw->pdev->dev.of_node, dev->dev_addr);
+	if (ret)
 		memcpy_fromio(dev->dev_addr, hw->regs + B2_MAC_1 + port * 8,
 			      ETH_ALEN);
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/mediatek/mtk_eth_soc.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/mediatek/mtk_eth_soc.c
index 810def064f11..6b00c12c6c43 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/mediatek/mtk_eth_soc.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/mediatek/mtk_eth_soc.c
@@ -2484,14 +2484,11 @@ static int __init mtk_init(struct net_device *dev)
 {
 	struct mtk_mac *mac = netdev_priv(dev);
 	struct mtk_eth *eth = mac->hw;
-	const char *mac_addr;
+	int ret;
 
-	mac_addr = of_get_mac_address(mac->of_node);
-	if (!IS_ERR(mac_addr))
-		ether_addr_copy(dev->dev_addr, mac_addr);
-
-	/* If the mac address is invalid, use random mac address  */
-	if (!is_valid_ether_addr(dev->dev_addr)) {
+	ret = of_get_mac_address(mac->of_node, dev->dev_addr);
+	if (ret) {
+		/* If the mac address is invalid, use random mac address */
 		eth_hw_addr_random(dev);
 		dev_err(eth->dev, "generated random MAC address %pM\n",
 			dev->dev_addr);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/micrel/ks8851_common.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/micrel/ks8851_common.c
index 2feed6ce19d3..13eef6e9bd2d 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/micrel/ks8851_common.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/micrel/ks8851_common.c
@@ -193,11 +193,10 @@ static void ks8851_read_mac_addr(struct net_device *dev)
 static void ks8851_init_mac(struct ks8851_net *ks, struct device_node *np)
 {
 	struct net_device *dev = ks->netdev;
-	const u8 *mac_addr;
+	int ret;
 
-	mac_addr = of_get_mac_address(np);
-	if (!IS_ERR(mac_addr)) {
-		ether_addr_copy(dev->dev_addr, mac_addr);
+	ret = of_get_mac_address(np, dev->dev_addr);
+	if (!ret) {
 		ks8851_write_mac_addr(dev);
 		return;
 	}
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/microchip/lan743x_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/microchip/lan743x_main.c
index 11a1dc4c436d..dae10328c6cf 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/microchip/lan743x_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/microchip/lan743x_main.c
@@ -2771,7 +2771,6 @@ static int lan743x_pcidev_probe(struct pci_dev *pdev,
 {
 	struct lan743x_adapter *adapter = NULL;
 	struct net_device *netdev = NULL;
-	const void *mac_addr;
 	int ret = -ENODEV;
 
 	netdev = devm_alloc_etherdev(&pdev->dev,
@@ -2788,9 +2787,7 @@ static int lan743x_pcidev_probe(struct pci_dev *pdev,
 			      NETIF_MSG_IFDOWN | NETIF_MSG_TX_QUEUED;
 	netdev->max_mtu = LAN743X_MAX_FRAME_SIZE;
 
-	mac_addr = of_get_mac_address(pdev->dev.of_node);
-	if (!IS_ERR(mac_addr))
-		ether_addr_copy(adapter->mac_address, mac_addr);
+	of_get_mac_address(pdev->dev.of_node, adapter->mac_address);
 
 	ret = lan743x_pci_init(adapter, pdev);
 	if (ret)
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/nxp/lpc_eth.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/nxp/lpc_eth.c
index e72fd33a214c..64c6842bd452 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/nxp/lpc_eth.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/nxp/lpc_eth.c
@@ -1350,9 +1350,7 @@ static int lpc_eth_drv_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	__lpc_get_mac(pldat, ndev->dev_addr);
 
 	if (!is_valid_ether_addr(ndev->dev_addr)) {
-		const char *macaddr = of_get_mac_address(np);
-		if (!IS_ERR(macaddr))
-			ether_addr_copy(ndev->dev_addr, macaddr);
+		of_get_mac_address(np, ndev->dev_addr);
 	}
 	if (!is_valid_ether_addr(ndev->dev_addr))
 		eth_hw_addr_random(ndev);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/qualcomm/qca_spi.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/qualcomm/qca_spi.c
index 5a3b65a6eb4f..ab9b02574a15 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/qualcomm/qca_spi.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/qualcomm/qca_spi.c
@@ -885,7 +885,7 @@ qca_spi_probe(struct spi_device *spi)
 	struct net_device *qcaspi_devs = NULL;
 	u8 legacy_mode = 0;
 	u16 signature;
-	const char *mac;
+	int ret;
 
 	if (!spi->dev.of_node) {
 		dev_err(&spi->dev, "Missing device tree\n");
@@ -962,12 +962,8 @@ qca_spi_probe(struct spi_device *spi)
 
 	spi_set_drvdata(spi, qcaspi_devs);
 
-	mac = of_get_mac_address(spi->dev.of_node);
-
-	if (!IS_ERR(mac))
-		ether_addr_copy(qca->net_dev->dev_addr, mac);
-
-	if (!is_valid_ether_addr(qca->net_dev->dev_addr)) {
+	ret = of_get_mac_address(spi->dev.of_node, qca->net_dev->dev_addr);
+	if (ret) {
 		eth_hw_addr_random(qca->net_dev);
 		dev_info(&spi->dev, "Using random MAC address: %pM\n",
 			 qca->net_dev->dev_addr);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/qualcomm/qca_uart.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/qualcomm/qca_uart.c
index 362b4f5c162c..bcdeca7b3366 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/qualcomm/qca_uart.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/qualcomm/qca_uart.c
@@ -323,7 +323,6 @@ static int qca_uart_probe(struct serdev_device *serdev)
 {
 	struct net_device *qcauart_dev = alloc_etherdev(sizeof(struct qcauart));
 	struct qcauart *qca;
-	const char *mac;
 	u32 speed = 115200;
 	int ret;
 
@@ -348,12 +347,8 @@ static int qca_uart_probe(struct serdev_device *serdev)
 
 	of_property_read_u32(serdev->dev.of_node, "current-speed", &speed);
 
-	mac = of_get_mac_address(serdev->dev.of_node);
-
-	if (!IS_ERR(mac))
-		ether_addr_copy(qca->net_dev->dev_addr, mac);
-
-	if (!is_valid_ether_addr(qca->net_dev->dev_addr)) {
+	ret = of_get_mac_address(serdev->dev.of_node, qca->net_dev->dev_addr);
+	if (ret) {
 		eth_hw_addr_random(qca->net_dev);
 		dev_info(&serdev->dev, "Using random MAC address: %pM\n",
 			 qca->net_dev->dev_addr);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/renesas/ravb_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/renesas/ravb_main.c
index 1409ae986aa2..8c84c40ab9a0 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/renesas/ravb_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/renesas/ravb_main.c
@@ -109,11 +109,13 @@ static void ravb_set_buffer_align(struct sk_buff *skb)
  * Ethernet AVB device doesn't have ROM for MAC address.
  * This function gets the MAC address that was used by a bootloader.
  */
-static void ravb_read_mac_address(struct net_device *ndev, const u8 *mac)
+static void ravb_read_mac_address(struct device_node *np,
+				  struct net_device *ndev)
 {
-	if (!IS_ERR(mac)) {
-		ether_addr_copy(ndev->dev_addr, mac);
-	} else {
+	int ret;
+
+	ret = of_get_mac_address(np, ndev->dev_addr);
+	if (ret) {
 		u32 mahr = ravb_read(ndev, MAHR);
 		u32 malr = ravb_read(ndev, MALR);
 
@@ -2207,7 +2209,7 @@ static int ravb_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	priv->msg_enable = RAVB_DEF_MSG_ENABLE;
 
 	/* Read and set MAC address */
-	ravb_read_mac_address(ndev, of_get_mac_address(np));
+	ravb_read_mac_address(np, ndev);
 	if (!is_valid_ether_addr(ndev->dev_addr)) {
 		dev_warn(&pdev->dev,
 			 "no valid MAC address supplied, using a random one\n");
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/renesas/sh_eth.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/renesas/sh_eth.c
index ebedb1a11132..c5b154868c1f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/renesas/sh_eth.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/renesas/sh_eth.c
@@ -3170,7 +3170,6 @@ static struct sh_eth_plat_data *sh_eth_parse_dt(struct device *dev)
 	struct device_node *np = dev->of_node;
 	struct sh_eth_plat_data *pdata;
 	phy_interface_t interface;
-	const char *mac_addr;
 	int ret;
 
 	pdata = devm_kzalloc(dev, sizeof(*pdata), GFP_KERNEL);
@@ -3182,9 +3181,7 @@ static struct sh_eth_plat_data *sh_eth_parse_dt(struct device *dev)
 		return NULL;
 	pdata->phy_interface = interface;
 
-	mac_addr = of_get_mac_address(np);
-	if (!IS_ERR(mac_addr))
-		ether_addr_copy(pdata->mac_addr, mac_addr);
+	of_get_mac_address(np, pdata->mac_addr);
 
 	pdata->no_ether_link =
 		of_property_read_bool(np, "renesas,no-ether-link");
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/samsung/sxgbe/sxgbe_platform.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/samsung/sxgbe/sxgbe_platform.c
index 33f79402850d..4639ed9438a3 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/samsung/sxgbe/sxgbe_platform.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/samsung/sxgbe/sxgbe_platform.c
@@ -25,8 +25,7 @@
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_OF
 static int sxgbe_probe_config_dt(struct platform_device *pdev,
-				 struct sxgbe_plat_data *plat,
-				 const char **mac)
+				 struct sxgbe_plat_data *plat)
 {
 	struct device_node *np = pdev->dev.of_node;
 	struct sxgbe_dma_cfg *dma_cfg;
@@ -35,7 +34,6 @@ static int sxgbe_probe_config_dt(struct platform_device *pdev,
 	if (!np)
 		return -ENODEV;
 
-	*mac = of_get_mac_address(np);
 	err = of_get_phy_mode(np, &plat->interface);
 	if (err && err != -ENODEV)
 		return err;
@@ -63,8 +61,7 @@ static int sxgbe_probe_config_dt(struct platform_device *pdev,
 }
 #else
 static int sxgbe_probe_config_dt(struct platform_device *pdev,
-				 struct sxgbe_plat_data *plat,
-				 const char **mac)
+				 struct sxgbe_plat_data *plat)
 {
 	return -ENOSYS;
 }
@@ -85,7 +82,6 @@ static int sxgbe_platform_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	void __iomem *addr;
 	struct sxgbe_priv_data *priv = NULL;
 	struct sxgbe_plat_data *plat_dat = NULL;
-	const char *mac = NULL;
 	struct net_device *ndev = platform_get_drvdata(pdev);
 	struct device_node *node = dev->of_node;
 
@@ -101,7 +97,7 @@ static int sxgbe_platform_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 		if (!plat_dat)
 			return  -ENOMEM;
 
-		ret = sxgbe_probe_config_dt(pdev, plat_dat, &mac);
+		ret = sxgbe_probe_config_dt(pdev, plat_dat);
 		if (ret) {
 			pr_err("%s: main dt probe failed\n", __func__);
 			return ret;
@@ -122,8 +118,7 @@ static int sxgbe_platform_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	}
 
 	/* Get MAC address if available (DT) */
-	if (!IS_ERR_OR_NULL(mac))
-		ether_addr_copy(priv->dev->dev_addr, mac);
+	of_get_mac_address(node, priv->dev->dev_addr);
 
 	/* Get the TX/RX IRQ numbers */
 	for (i = 0, chan = 1; i < SXGBE_TX_QUEUES; i++) {
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/socionext/sni_ave.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/socionext/sni_ave.c
index 501b9c7aba56..fcbb4bb31408 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/socionext/sni_ave.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/socionext/sni_ave.c
@@ -1559,7 +1559,6 @@ static int ave_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	struct ave_private *priv;
 	struct net_device *ndev;
 	struct device_node *np;
-	const void *mac_addr;
 	void __iomem *base;
 	const char *name;
 	int i, irq, ret;
@@ -1600,12 +1599,9 @@ static int ave_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 
 	ndev->max_mtu = AVE_MAX_ETHFRAME - (ETH_HLEN + ETH_FCS_LEN);
 
-	mac_addr = of_get_mac_address(np);
-	if (!IS_ERR(mac_addr))
-		ether_addr_copy(ndev->dev_addr, mac_addr);
-
-	/* if the mac address is invalid, use random mac address */
-	if (!is_valid_ether_addr(ndev->dev_addr)) {
+	ret = of_get_mac_address(np, ndev->dev_addr);
+	if (ret) {
+		/* if the mac address is invalid, use random mac address */
 		eth_hw_addr_random(ndev);
 		dev_warn(dev, "Using random MAC address: %pM\n",
 			 ndev->dev_addr);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-anarion.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-anarion.c
index 08c76636c164..dfbaea06d108 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-anarion.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-anarion.c
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ static int anarion_dwmac_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	if (IS_ERR(gmac))
 		return PTR_ERR(gmac);
 
-	plat_dat = stmmac_probe_config_dt(pdev, &stmmac_res.mac);
+	plat_dat = stmmac_probe_config_dt(pdev, stmmac_res.mac);
 	if (IS_ERR(plat_dat))
 		return PTR_ERR(plat_dat);
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-dwc-qos-eth.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-dwc-qos-eth.c
index 27254b27d7ed..bc91fd867dcd 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-dwc-qos-eth.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-dwc-qos-eth.c
@@ -438,7 +438,7 @@ static int dwc_eth_dwmac_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	if (IS_ERR(stmmac_res.addr))
 		return PTR_ERR(stmmac_res.addr);
 
-	plat_dat = stmmac_probe_config_dt(pdev, &stmmac_res.mac);
+	plat_dat = stmmac_probe_config_dt(pdev, stmmac_res.mac);
 	if (IS_ERR(plat_dat))
 		return PTR_ERR(plat_dat);
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-generic.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-generic.c
index fad503820e04..fbfda55b4c52 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-generic.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-generic.c
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ static int dwmac_generic_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 		return ret;
 
 	if (pdev->dev.of_node) {
-		plat_dat = stmmac_probe_config_dt(pdev, &stmmac_res.mac);
+		plat_dat = stmmac_probe_config_dt(pdev, stmmac_res.mac);
 		if (IS_ERR(plat_dat)) {
 			dev_err(&pdev->dev, "dt configuration failed\n");
 			return PTR_ERR(plat_dat);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-imx.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-imx.c
index c1a361305a5a..84651207a1de 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-imx.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-imx.c
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ static int imx_dwmac_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	if (!dwmac)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
-	plat_dat = stmmac_probe_config_dt(pdev, &stmmac_res.mac);
+	plat_dat = stmmac_probe_config_dt(pdev, stmmac_res.mac);
 	if (IS_ERR(plat_dat))
 		return PTR_ERR(plat_dat);
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-intel-plat.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-intel-plat.c
index 6c19fcc76c6f..06d287f104be 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-intel-plat.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-intel-plat.c
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ static int intel_eth_plat_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
 
-	plat_dat = stmmac_probe_config_dt(pdev, &stmmac_res.mac);
+	plat_dat = stmmac_probe_config_dt(pdev, stmmac_res.mac);
 	if (IS_ERR(plat_dat)) {
 		dev_err(&pdev->dev, "dt configuration failed\n");
 		return PTR_ERR(plat_dat);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-ipq806x.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-ipq806x.c
index 749585fe6fc9..28dd0ed85a82 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-ipq806x.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-ipq806x.c
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ static int ipq806x_gmac_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	if (val)
 		return val;
 
-	plat_dat = stmmac_probe_config_dt(pdev, &stmmac_res.mac);
+	plat_dat = stmmac_probe_config_dt(pdev, stmmac_res.mac);
 	if (IS_ERR(plat_dat))
 		return PTR_ERR(plat_dat);
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-lpc18xx.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-lpc18xx.c
index 3d3f43d91b98..9d77c647badd 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-lpc18xx.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-lpc18xx.c
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ static int lpc18xx_dwmac_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
 
-	plat_dat = stmmac_probe_config_dt(pdev, &stmmac_res.mac);
+	plat_dat = stmmac_probe_config_dt(pdev, stmmac_res.mac);
 	if (IS_ERR(plat_dat))
 		return PTR_ERR(plat_dat);
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-mediatek.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-mediatek.c
index 9e4b83832938..58c0feaa8131 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-mediatek.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-mediatek.c
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@ static int mediatek_dwmac_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
 
-	plat_dat = stmmac_probe_config_dt(pdev, &stmmac_res.mac);
+	plat_dat = stmmac_probe_config_dt(pdev, stmmac_res.mac);
 	if (IS_ERR(plat_dat))
 		return PTR_ERR(plat_dat);
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-meson.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-meson.c
index bbc16b5a410a..16fb66a0ca72 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-meson.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-meson.c
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ static int meson6_dwmac_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
 
-	plat_dat = stmmac_probe_config_dt(pdev, &stmmac_res.mac);
+	plat_dat = stmmac_probe_config_dt(pdev, stmmac_res.mac);
 	if (IS_ERR(plat_dat))
 		return PTR_ERR(plat_dat);
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-meson8b.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-meson8b.c
index 848e5c37746b..c7a6588d9398 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-meson8b.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-meson8b.c
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ static int meson8b_dwmac_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
 
-	plat_dat = stmmac_probe_config_dt(pdev, &stmmac_res.mac);
+	plat_dat = stmmac_probe_config_dt(pdev, stmmac_res.mac);
 	if (IS_ERR(plat_dat))
 		return PTR_ERR(plat_dat);
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-oxnas.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-oxnas.c
index 8551ea878ba5..adfeb8d3293d 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-oxnas.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-oxnas.c
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ static int oxnas_dwmac_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
 
-	plat_dat = stmmac_probe_config_dt(pdev, &stmmac_res.mac);
+	plat_dat = stmmac_probe_config_dt(pdev, stmmac_res.mac);
 	if (IS_ERR(plat_dat))
 		return PTR_ERR(plat_dat);
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-qcom-ethqos.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-qcom-ethqos.c
index a674b7d6b49a..84382fc5cc4d 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-qcom-ethqos.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-qcom-ethqos.c
@@ -461,7 +461,7 @@ static int qcom_ethqos_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
 
-	plat_dat = stmmac_probe_config_dt(pdev, &stmmac_res.mac);
+	plat_dat = stmmac_probe_config_dt(pdev, stmmac_res.mac);
 	if (IS_ERR(plat_dat)) {
 		dev_err(&pdev->dev, "dt configuration failed\n");
 		return PTR_ERR(plat_dat);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-rk.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-rk.c
index 6ef30252bfe0..8d28a536e1bb 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-rk.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-rk.c
@@ -1396,7 +1396,7 @@ static int rk_gmac_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
 
-	plat_dat = stmmac_probe_config_dt(pdev, &stmmac_res.mac);
+	plat_dat = stmmac_probe_config_dt(pdev, stmmac_res.mac);
 	if (IS_ERR(plat_dat))
 		return PTR_ERR(plat_dat);
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-socfpga.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-socfpga.c
index 70d41783329d..85208128f135 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-socfpga.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-socfpga.c
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ static int socfpga_dwmac_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
 
-	plat_dat = stmmac_probe_config_dt(pdev, &stmmac_res.mac);
+	plat_dat = stmmac_probe_config_dt(pdev, stmmac_res.mac);
 	if (IS_ERR(plat_dat))
 		return PTR_ERR(plat_dat);
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-sti.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-sti.c
index e1b63df6f96f..710d7435733e 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-sti.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-sti.c
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ static int sti_dwmac_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
 
-	plat_dat = stmmac_probe_config_dt(pdev, &stmmac_res.mac);
+	plat_dat = stmmac_probe_config_dt(pdev, stmmac_res.mac);
 	if (IS_ERR(plat_dat))
 		return PTR_ERR(plat_dat);
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-stm32.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-stm32.c
index 5d4df4c5254e..2b38a499a404 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-stm32.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-stm32.c
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ static int stm32_dwmac_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
 
-	plat_dat = stmmac_probe_config_dt(pdev, &stmmac_res.mac);
+	plat_dat = stmmac_probe_config_dt(pdev, stmmac_res.mac);
 	if (IS_ERR(plat_dat))
 		return PTR_ERR(plat_dat);
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-sun8i.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-sun8i.c
index 19e7ec30af4c..4422baeed3d8 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-sun8i.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-sun8i.c
@@ -1221,7 +1221,7 @@ static int sun8i_dwmac_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	if (ret)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
-	plat_dat = stmmac_probe_config_dt(pdev, &stmmac_res.mac);
+	plat_dat = stmmac_probe_config_dt(pdev, stmmac_res.mac);
 	if (IS_ERR(plat_dat))
 		return PTR_ERR(plat_dat);
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-sunxi.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-sunxi.c
index 0e1ca2cba3c7..527077c98ebc 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-sunxi.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-sunxi.c
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ static int sun7i_gmac_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
 
-	plat_dat = stmmac_probe_config_dt(pdev, &stmmac_res.mac);
+	plat_dat = stmmac_probe_config_dt(pdev, stmmac_res.mac);
 	if (IS_ERR(plat_dat))
 		return PTR_ERR(plat_dat);
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-visconti.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-visconti.c
index d23be45a64e5..d046e33b8a29 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-visconti.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/dwmac-visconti.c
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ static int visconti_eth_dwmac_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
 
-	plat_dat = stmmac_probe_config_dt(pdev, &stmmac_res.mac);
+	plat_dat = stmmac_probe_config_dt(pdev, stmmac_res.mac);
 	if (IS_ERR(plat_dat))
 		return PTR_ERR(plat_dat);
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/stmmac.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/stmmac.h
index c49debb62b05..8b4ff9c189a1 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/stmmac.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/stmmac.h
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 
 struct stmmac_resources {
 	void __iomem *addr;
-	const char *mac;
+	u8 mac[ETH_ALEN];
 	int wol_irq;
 	int lpi_irq;
 	int irq;
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/stmmac_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/stmmac_main.c
index 77285646c5fc..328aeb2cd276 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/stmmac_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/stmmac_main.c
@@ -6016,7 +6016,7 @@ int stmmac_dvr_probe(struct device *device,
 	for (i = 0; i < MTL_MAX_TX_QUEUES; i++)
 		priv->tx_irq[i] = res->tx_irq[i];
 
-	if (!IS_ERR_OR_NULL(res->mac))
+	if (!is_zero_ether_addr(res->mac))
 		memcpy(priv->dev->dev_addr, res->mac, ETH_ALEN);
 
 	dev_set_drvdata(device, priv->dev);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/stmmac_platform.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/stmmac_platform.c
index 5a1e018884e6..1e17a23d9118 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/stmmac_platform.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/stmmac_platform.c
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ static int stmmac_of_get_mac_mode(struct device_node *np)
  * set some private fields that will be used by the main at runtime.
  */
 struct plat_stmmacenet_data *
-stmmac_probe_config_dt(struct platform_device *pdev, const char **mac)
+stmmac_probe_config_dt(struct platform_device *pdev, u8 *mac)
 {
 	struct device_node *np = pdev->dev.of_node;
 	struct plat_stmmacenet_data *plat;
@@ -406,12 +406,12 @@ stmmac_probe_config_dt(struct platform_device *pdev, const char **mac)
 	if (!plat)
 		return ERR_PTR(-ENOMEM);
 
-	*mac = of_get_mac_address(np);
-	if (IS_ERR(*mac)) {
-		if (PTR_ERR(*mac) == -EPROBE_DEFER)
-			return ERR_CAST(*mac);
+	rc = of_get_mac_address(np, mac);
+	if (rc) {
+		if (rc == -EPROBE_DEFER)
+			return ERR_PTR(rc);
 
-		*mac = NULL;
+		eth_zero_addr(mac);
 	}
 
 	plat->phy_interface = device_get_phy_mode(&pdev->dev);
@@ -627,7 +627,7 @@ void stmmac_remove_config_dt(struct platform_device *pdev,
 }
 #else
 struct plat_stmmacenet_data *
-stmmac_probe_config_dt(struct platform_device *pdev, const char **mac)
+stmmac_probe_config_dt(struct platform_device *pdev, u8 *mac)
 {
 	return ERR_PTR(-EINVAL);
 }
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/stmmac_platform.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/stmmac_platform.h
index 3a4663b7b460..3fff3f59d73d 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/stmmac_platform.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/stmmac_platform.h
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 #include "stmmac.h"
 
 struct plat_stmmacenet_data *
-stmmac_probe_config_dt(struct platform_device *pdev, const char **mac);
+stmmac_probe_config_dt(struct platform_device *pdev, u8 *mac);
 void stmmac_remove_config_dt(struct platform_device *pdev,
 			     struct plat_stmmacenet_data *plat);
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/ti/am65-cpsw-nuss.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/ti/am65-cpsw-nuss.c
index 638d7b03be4b..6a67b026df0b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/ti/am65-cpsw-nuss.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/ti/am65-cpsw-nuss.c
@@ -1824,7 +1824,6 @@ static int am65_cpsw_nuss_init_slave_ports(struct am65_cpsw_common *common)
 
 	for_each_child_of_node(node, port_np) {
 		struct am65_cpsw_port *port;
-		const void *mac_addr;
 		u32 port_id;
 
 		/* it is not a slave port node, continue */
@@ -1903,15 +1902,15 @@ static int am65_cpsw_nuss_init_slave_ports(struct am65_cpsw_common *common)
 			return ret;
 		}
 
-		mac_addr = of_get_mac_address(port_np);
-		if (!IS_ERR(mac_addr)) {
-			ether_addr_copy(port->slave.mac_addr, mac_addr);
-		} else if (am65_cpsw_am654_get_efuse_macid(port_np,
-							   port->port_id,
-							   port->slave.mac_addr) ||
-			   !is_valid_ether_addr(port->slave.mac_addr)) {
-			random_ether_addr(port->slave.mac_addr);
-			dev_err(dev, "Use random MAC address\n");
+		ret = of_get_mac_address(port_np, port->slave.mac_addr);
+		if (ret) {
+			am65_cpsw_am654_get_efuse_macid(port_np,
+							port->port_id,
+							port->slave.mac_addr);
+			if (!is_valid_ether_addr(port->slave.mac_addr)) {
+				random_ether_addr(port->slave.mac_addr);
+				dev_err(dev, "Use random MAC address\n");
+			}
 		}
 	}
 	of_node_put(node);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/ti/cpsw.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/ti/cpsw.c
index 074702af3dc6..c0cd7de88316 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/ti/cpsw.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/ti/cpsw.c
@@ -1296,7 +1296,6 @@ static int cpsw_probe_dt(struct cpsw_platform_data *data,
 
 	for_each_available_child_of_node(node, slave_node) {
 		struct cpsw_slave_data *slave_data = data->slave_data + i;
-		const void *mac_addr = NULL;
 		int lenp;
 		const __be32 *parp;
 
@@ -1368,10 +1367,8 @@ static int cpsw_probe_dt(struct cpsw_platform_data *data,
 		}
 
 no_phy_slave:
-		mac_addr = of_get_mac_address(slave_node);
-		if (!IS_ERR(mac_addr)) {
-			ether_addr_copy(slave_data->mac_addr, mac_addr);
-		} else {
+		ret = of_get_mac_address(slave_node, slave_data->mac_addr);
+		if (ret) {
 			ret = ti_cm_get_macid(&pdev->dev, i,
 					      slave_data->mac_addr);
 			if (ret)
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/ti/cpsw_new.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/ti/cpsw_new.c
index 0751f77de2c7..69b7a4e0220a 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/ti/cpsw_new.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/ti/cpsw_new.c
@@ -1257,7 +1257,6 @@ static int cpsw_probe_dt(struct cpsw_common *cpsw)
 
 	for_each_child_of_node(tmp_node, port_np) {
 		struct cpsw_slave_data *slave_data;
-		const void *mac_addr;
 		u32 port_id;
 
 		ret = of_property_read_u32(port_np, "reg", &port_id);
@@ -1316,10 +1315,8 @@ static int cpsw_probe_dt(struct cpsw_common *cpsw)
 			goto err_node_put;
 		}
 
-		mac_addr = of_get_mac_address(port_np);
-		if (!IS_ERR(mac_addr)) {
-			ether_addr_copy(slave_data->mac_addr, mac_addr);
-		} else {
+		ret = of_get_mac_address(port_np, slave_data->mac_addr);
+		if (ret) {
 			ret = ti_cm_get_macid(dev, port_id - 1,
 					      slave_data->mac_addr);
 			if (ret)
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/ti/davinci_emac.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/ti/davinci_emac.c
index c7031e1960d4..14e7da7d302f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/ti/davinci_emac.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/ti/davinci_emac.c
@@ -1687,7 +1687,6 @@ davinci_emac_of_get_pdata(struct platform_device *pdev, struct emac_priv *priv)
 	const struct of_device_id *match;
 	const struct emac_platform_data *auxdata;
 	struct emac_platform_data *pdata = NULL;
-	const u8 *mac_addr;
 
 	if (!IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_OF) || !pdev->dev.of_node)
 		return dev_get_platdata(&pdev->dev);
@@ -1699,11 +1698,8 @@ davinci_emac_of_get_pdata(struct platform_device *pdev, struct emac_priv *priv)
 	np = pdev->dev.of_node;
 	pdata->version = EMAC_VERSION_2;
 
-	if (!is_valid_ether_addr(pdata->mac_addr)) {
-		mac_addr = of_get_mac_address(np);
-		if (!IS_ERR(mac_addr))
-			ether_addr_copy(pdata->mac_addr, mac_addr);
-	}
+	if (!is_valid_ether_addr(pdata->mac_addr))
+		of_get_mac_address(np, pdata->mac_addr);
 
 	of_property_read_u32(np, "ti,davinci-ctrl-reg-offset",
 			     &pdata->ctrl_reg_offset);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/ti/netcp_core.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/ti/netcp_core.c
index d7a144b4a09f..9030e619e543 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/ti/netcp_core.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/ti/netcp_core.c
@@ -1966,7 +1966,6 @@ static int netcp_create_interface(struct netcp_device *netcp_device,
 	struct resource res;
 	void __iomem *efuse = NULL;
 	u32 efuse_mac = 0;
-	const void *mac_addr;
 	u8 efuse_mac_addr[6];
 	u32 temp[2];
 	int ret = 0;
@@ -2036,10 +2035,8 @@ static int netcp_create_interface(struct netcp_device *netcp_device,
 		devm_iounmap(dev, efuse);
 		devm_release_mem_region(dev, res.start, size);
 	} else {
-		mac_addr = of_get_mac_address(node_interface);
-		if (!IS_ERR(mac_addr))
-			ether_addr_copy(ndev->dev_addr, mac_addr);
-		else
+		ret = of_get_mac_address(node_interface, ndev->dev_addr);
+		if (ret)
 			eth_random_addr(ndev->dev_addr);
 	}
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/wiznet/w5100-spi.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/wiznet/w5100-spi.c
index 2b4126d2427d..2b84848dc26a 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/wiznet/w5100-spi.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/wiznet/w5100-spi.c
@@ -423,8 +423,14 @@ static int w5100_spi_probe(struct spi_device *spi)
 	const struct of_device_id *of_id;
 	const struct w5100_ops *ops;
 	kernel_ulong_t driver_data;
+	const void *mac = NULL;
+	u8 tmpmac[ETH_ALEN];
 	int priv_size;
-	const void *mac = of_get_mac_address(spi->dev.of_node);
+	int ret;
+
+	ret = of_get_mac_address(spi->dev.of_node, tmpmac);
+	if (!ret)
+		mac = tmpmac;
 
 	if (spi->dev.of_node) {
 		of_id = of_match_device(w5100_of_match, &spi->dev);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/wiznet/w5100.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/wiznet/w5100.c
index c0d181a7f83a..ec5db481c9cd 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/wiznet/w5100.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/wiznet/w5100.c
@@ -1157,7 +1157,7 @@ int w5100_probe(struct device *dev, const struct w5100_ops *ops,
 	INIT_WORK(&priv->setrx_work, w5100_setrx_work);
 	INIT_WORK(&priv->restart_work, w5100_restart_work);
 
-	if (!IS_ERR_OR_NULL(mac_addr))
+	if (mac_addr)
 		memcpy(ndev->dev_addr, mac_addr, ETH_ALEN);
 	else
 		eth_hw_addr_random(ndev);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/xilinx/ll_temac_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/xilinx/ll_temac_main.c
index 030185301014..a1f5f07f4ca9 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/xilinx/ll_temac_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/xilinx/ll_temac_main.c
@@ -438,7 +438,7 @@ static void temac_do_set_mac_address(struct net_device *ndev)
 
 static int temac_init_mac_address(struct net_device *ndev, const void *address)
 {
-	ether_addr_copy(ndev->dev_addr, address);
+	memcpy(ndev->dev_addr, address, ETH_ALEN);
 	if (!is_valid_ether_addr(ndev->dev_addr))
 		eth_hw_addr_random(ndev);
 	temac_do_set_mac_address(ndev);
@@ -1351,7 +1351,7 @@ static int temac_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	struct device_node *temac_np = dev_of_node(&pdev->dev), *dma_np;
 	struct temac_local *lp;
 	struct net_device *ndev;
-	const void *addr;
+	u8 addr[ETH_ALEN];
 	__be32 *p;
 	bool little_endian;
 	int rc = 0;
@@ -1542,8 +1542,8 @@ static int temac_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 
 	if (temac_np) {
 		/* Retrieve the MAC address */
-		addr = of_get_mac_address(temac_np);
-		if (IS_ERR(addr)) {
+		rc = of_get_mac_address(temac_np, addr);
+		if (rc) {
 			dev_err(&pdev->dev, "could not find MAC address\n");
 			return -ENODEV;
 		}
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/xilinx/xilinx_axienet_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/xilinx/xilinx_axienet_main.c
index feb1aa4ec927..b508c9453f40 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/xilinx/xilinx_axienet_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/xilinx/xilinx_axienet_main.c
@@ -1835,8 +1835,8 @@ static int axienet_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	struct device_node *np;
 	struct axienet_local *lp;
 	struct net_device *ndev;
-	const void *mac_addr;
 	struct resource *ethres;
+	u8 mac_addr[ETH_ALEN];
 	int addr_width = 32;
 	u32 value;
 
@@ -2062,13 +2062,14 @@ static int axienet_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 		dev_info(&pdev->dev, "Ethernet core IRQ not defined\n");
 
 	/* Retrieve the MAC address */
-	mac_addr = of_get_mac_address(pdev->dev.of_node);
-	if (IS_ERR(mac_addr)) {
-		dev_warn(&pdev->dev, "could not find MAC address property: %ld\n",
-			 PTR_ERR(mac_addr));
-		mac_addr = NULL;
+	ret = of_get_mac_address(pdev->dev.of_node, mac_addr);
+	if (!ret) {
+		axienet_set_mac_address(ndev, mac_addr);
+	} else {
+		dev_warn(&pdev->dev, "could not find MAC address property: %d\n",
+			 ret);
+		axienet_set_mac_address(ndev, NULL);
 	}
-	axienet_set_mac_address(ndev, mac_addr);
 
 	lp->coalesce_count_rx = XAXIDMA_DFT_RX_THRESHOLD;
 	lp->coalesce_count_tx = XAXIDMA_DFT_TX_THRESHOLD;
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/xilinx/xilinx_emaclite.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/xilinx/xilinx_emaclite.c
index 007840d4a807..d9d58a7dabee 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/xilinx/xilinx_emaclite.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/xilinx/xilinx_emaclite.c
@@ -1115,7 +1115,6 @@ static int xemaclite_of_probe(struct platform_device *ofdev)
 	struct net_device *ndev = NULL;
 	struct net_local *lp = NULL;
 	struct device *dev = &ofdev->dev;
-	const void *mac_address;
 
 	int rc = 0;
 
@@ -1157,12 +1156,9 @@ static int xemaclite_of_probe(struct platform_device *ofdev)
 	lp->next_rx_buf_to_use = 0x0;
 	lp->tx_ping_pong = get_bool(ofdev, "xlnx,tx-ping-pong");
 	lp->rx_ping_pong = get_bool(ofdev, "xlnx,rx-ping-pong");
-	mac_address = of_get_mac_address(ofdev->dev.of_node);
 
-	if (!IS_ERR(mac_address)) {
-		/* Set the MAC address. */
-		ether_addr_copy(ndev->dev_addr, mac_address);
-	} else {
+	rc = of_get_mac_address(ofdev->dev.of_node, ndev->dev_addr);
+	if (rc) {
 		dev_warn(dev, "No MAC address found, using random\n");
 		eth_hw_addr_random(ndev);
 	}
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/init.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/init.c
index 01f9c26f9bf3..e9a36dd7144f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/init.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/init.c
@@ -617,7 +617,6 @@ static int ath9k_of_init(struct ath_softc *sc)
 	struct ath_hw *ah = sc->sc_ah;
 	struct ath_common *common = ath9k_hw_common(ah);
 	enum ath_bus_type bus_type = common->bus_ops->ath_bus_type;
-	const char *mac;
 	char eeprom_name[100];
 	int ret;
 
@@ -640,9 +639,7 @@ static int ath9k_of_init(struct ath_softc *sc)
 		ah->ah_flags |= AH_NO_EEP_SWAP;
 	}
 
-	mac = of_get_mac_address(np);
-	if (!IS_ERR(mac))
-		ether_addr_copy(common->macaddr, mac);
+	of_get_mac_address(np, common->macaddr);
 
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/mediatek/mt76/eeprom.c b/drivers/net/wireless/mediatek/mt76/eeprom.c
index 665b54c5c8ae..6d895738222a 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/mediatek/mt76/eeprom.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/mediatek/mt76/eeprom.c
@@ -91,16 +91,9 @@ void
 mt76_eeprom_override(struct mt76_phy *phy)
 {
 	struct mt76_dev *dev = phy->dev;
-
-#ifdef CONFIG_OF
 	struct device_node *np = dev->dev->of_node;
-	const u8 *mac = NULL;
 
-	if (np)
-		mac = of_get_mac_address(np);
-	if (!IS_ERR_OR_NULL(mac))
-		ether_addr_copy(phy->macaddr, mac);
-#endif
+	of_get_mac_address(np, phy->macaddr);
 
 	if (!is_valid_ether_addr(phy->macaddr)) {
 		eth_random_addr(phy->macaddr);
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ralink/rt2x00/rt2x00dev.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ralink/rt2x00/rt2x00dev.c
index 61a4f1ad31e2..e95c101c2711 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ralink/rt2x00/rt2x00dev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ralink/rt2x00/rt2x00dev.c
@@ -989,11 +989,7 @@ static void rt2x00lib_rate(struct ieee80211_rate *entry,
 
 void rt2x00lib_set_mac_address(struct rt2x00_dev *rt2x00dev, u8 *eeprom_mac_addr)
 {
-	const char *mac_addr;
-
-	mac_addr = of_get_mac_address(rt2x00dev->dev->of_node);
-	if (!IS_ERR(mac_addr))
-		ether_addr_copy(eeprom_mac_addr, mac_addr);
+	of_get_mac_address(rt2x00dev->dev->of_node, eeprom_mac_addr);
 
 	if (!is_valid_ether_addr(eeprom_mac_addr)) {
 		eth_random_addr(eeprom_mac_addr);
diff --git a/drivers/of/of_net.c b/drivers/of/of_net.c
index bc0a27de69d4..cb77b774bf76 100644
--- a/drivers/of/of_net.c
+++ b/drivers/of/of_net.c
@@ -45,42 +45,35 @@ int of_get_phy_mode(struct device_node *np, phy_interface_t *interface)
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(of_get_phy_mode);
 
-static const void *of_get_mac_addr(struct device_node *np, const char *name)
+static int of_get_mac_addr(struct device_node *np, const char *name, u8 *addr)
 {
 	struct property *pp = of_find_property(np, name, NULL);
 
-	if (pp && pp->length == ETH_ALEN && is_valid_ether_addr(pp->value))
-		return pp->value;
-	return NULL;
+	if (pp && pp->length == ETH_ALEN && is_valid_ether_addr(pp->value)) {
+		memcpy(addr, pp->value, ETH_ALEN);
+		return 0;
+	}
+	return -ENODEV;
 }
 
-static const void *of_get_mac_addr_nvmem(struct device_node *np)
+static int of_get_mac_addr_nvmem(struct device_node *np, u8 *addr)
 {
-	int ret;
-	const void *mac;
-	u8 nvmem_mac[ETH_ALEN];
 	struct platform_device *pdev = of_find_device_by_node(np);
+	int ret;
 
 	if (!pdev)
-		return ERR_PTR(-ENODEV);
+		return -ENODEV;
 
-	ret = nvmem_get_mac_address(&pdev->dev, &nvmem_mac);
-	if (ret) {
-		put_device(&pdev->dev);
-		return ERR_PTR(ret);
-	}
-
-	mac = devm_kmemdup(&pdev->dev, nvmem_mac, ETH_ALEN, GFP_KERNEL);
+	ret = nvmem_get_mac_address(&pdev->dev, addr);
 	put_device(&pdev->dev);
-	if (!mac)
-		return ERR_PTR(-ENOMEM);
 
-	return mac;
+	return ret;
 }
 
 /**
  * of_get_mac_address()
  * @np:		Caller's Device Node
+ * @addr:	Pointer to a six-byte array for the result
  *
  * Search the device tree for the best MAC address to use.  'mac-address' is
  * checked first, because that is supposed to contain to "most recent" MAC
@@ -101,24 +94,27 @@ static const void *of_get_mac_addr_nvmem(struct device_node *np)
  * this case, the real MAC is in 'local-mac-address', and 'mac-address' exists
  * but is all zeros.
  *
- * Return: Will be a valid pointer on success and ERR_PTR in case of error.
+ * Return: 0 on success and errno in case of error.
 */
-const void *of_get_mac_address(struct device_node *np)
+int of_get_mac_address(struct device_node *np, u8 *addr)
 {
-	const void *addr;
+	int ret;
 
-	addr = of_get_mac_addr(np, "mac-address");
-	if (addr)
-		return addr;
+	if (!np)
+		return -ENODEV;
 
-	addr = of_get_mac_addr(np, "local-mac-address");
-	if (addr)
-		return addr;
+	ret = of_get_mac_addr(np, "mac-address", addr);
+	if (!ret)
+		return 0;
 
-	addr = of_get_mac_addr(np, "address");
-	if (addr)
-		return addr;
+	ret = of_get_mac_addr(np, "local-mac-address", addr);
+	if (!ret)
+		return 0;
 
-	return of_get_mac_addr_nvmem(np);
+	ret = of_get_mac_addr(np, "address", addr);
+	if (!ret)
+		return 0;
+
+	return of_get_mac_addr_nvmem(np, addr);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(of_get_mac_address);
diff --git a/drivers/staging/octeon/ethernet.c b/drivers/staging/octeon/ethernet.c
index 5dea6e96ec90..da7c2cd8ebb8 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/octeon/ethernet.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/octeon/ethernet.c
@@ -407,14 +407,10 @@ static int cvm_oct_common_set_mac_address(struct net_device *dev, void *addr)
 int cvm_oct_common_init(struct net_device *dev)
 {
 	struct octeon_ethernet *priv = netdev_priv(dev);
-	const u8 *mac = NULL;
+	int ret;
 
-	if (priv->of_node)
-		mac = of_get_mac_address(priv->of_node);
-
-	if (!IS_ERR_OR_NULL(mac))
-		ether_addr_copy(dev->dev_addr, mac);
-	else
+	ret = of_get_mac_address(priv->of_node, dev->dev_addr);
+	if (ret)
 		eth_hw_addr_random(dev);
 
 	/*
diff --git a/drivers/staging/wfx/main.c b/drivers/staging/wfx/main.c
index e7bc1988124a..4b9fdf99981b 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/wfx/main.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/wfx/main.c
@@ -334,7 +334,6 @@ int wfx_probe(struct wfx_dev *wdev)
 {
 	int i;
 	int err;
-	const void *macaddr;
 	struct gpio_desc *gpio_saved;
 
 	// During first part of boot, gpio_wakeup cannot yet been used. So
@@ -423,9 +422,9 @@ int wfx_probe(struct wfx_dev *wdev)
 
 	for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(wdev->addresses); i++) {
 		eth_zero_addr(wdev->addresses[i].addr);
-		macaddr = of_get_mac_address(wdev->dev->of_node);
-		if (!IS_ERR_OR_NULL(macaddr)) {
-			ether_addr_copy(wdev->addresses[i].addr, macaddr);
+		err = of_get_mac_address(wdev->dev->of_node,
+					 wdev->addresses[i].addr);
+		if (!err) {
 			wdev->addresses[i].addr[ETH_ALEN - 1] += i;
 		} else {
 			ether_addr_copy(wdev->addresses[i].addr,
diff --git a/include/linux/of_net.h b/include/linux/of_net.h
index 71bbfcf3adcd..daef3b0d9270 100644
--- a/include/linux/of_net.h
+++ b/include/linux/of_net.h
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 
 struct net_device;
 extern int of_get_phy_mode(struct device_node *np, phy_interface_t *interface);
-extern const void *of_get_mac_address(struct device_node *np);
+extern int of_get_mac_address(struct device_node *np, u8 *mac);
 extern struct net_device *of_find_net_device_by_node(struct device_node *np);
 #else
 static inline int of_get_phy_mode(struct device_node *np,
@@ -22,9 +22,9 @@ static inline int of_get_phy_mode(struct device_node *np,
 	return -ENODEV;
 }
 
-static inline const void *of_get_mac_address(struct device_node *np)
+static inline int of_get_mac_address(struct device_node *np, u8 *mac)
 {
-	return ERR_PTR(-ENODEV);
+	return -ENODEV;
 }
 
 static inline struct net_device *of_find_net_device_by_node(struct device_node *np)
diff --git a/include/net/dsa.h b/include/net/dsa.h
index 57b2c49f72f4..1259b0f40684 100644
--- a/include/net/dsa.h
+++ b/include/net/dsa.h
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ struct dsa_port {
 	unsigned int		index;
 	const char		*name;
 	struct dsa_port		*cpu_dp;
-	const char		*mac;
+	u8			mac[ETH_ALEN];
 	struct device_node	*dn;
 	unsigned int		ageing_time;
 	bool			vlan_filtering;
diff --git a/net/dsa/dsa2.c b/net/dsa/dsa2.c
index 3c3e56a1f34d..d7c22e3a1fbf 100644
--- a/net/dsa/dsa2.c
+++ b/net/dsa/dsa2.c
@@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ static int dsa_port_setup(struct dsa_port *dp)
 
 		break;
 	case DSA_PORT_TYPE_USER:
-		dp->mac = of_get_mac_address(dp->dn);
+		of_get_mac_address(dp->dn, dp->mac);
 		err = dsa_slave_create(dp);
 		if (err)
 			break;
diff --git a/net/dsa/slave.c b/net/dsa/slave.c
index 995e0e16f295..9300cb66e500 100644
--- a/net/dsa/slave.c
+++ b/net/dsa/slave.c
@@ -1896,7 +1896,7 @@ int dsa_slave_create(struct dsa_port *port)
 	slave_dev->hw_features |= NETIF_F_HW_TC;
 	slave_dev->features |= NETIF_F_LLTX;
 	slave_dev->ethtool_ops = &dsa_slave_ethtool_ops;
-	if (!IS_ERR_OR_NULL(port->mac))
+	if (!is_zero_ether_addr(port->mac))
 		ether_addr_copy(slave_dev->dev_addr, port->mac);
 	else
 		eth_hw_addr_inherit(slave_dev, master);
diff --git a/net/ethernet/eth.c b/net/ethernet/eth.c
index 933b427122be..9cce612e8976 100644
--- a/net/ethernet/eth.c
+++ b/net/ethernet/eth.c
@@ -511,13 +511,14 @@ unsigned char * __weak arch_get_platform_mac_address(void)
 
 int eth_platform_get_mac_address(struct device *dev, u8 *mac_addr)
 {
-	const unsigned char *addr = NULL;
+	unsigned char *addr;
+	int ret;
 
-	if (dev->of_node)
-		addr = of_get_mac_address(dev->of_node);
-	if (IS_ERR_OR_NULL(addr))
-		addr = arch_get_platform_mac_address();
+	ret = of_get_mac_address(dev->of_node, mac_addr);
+	if (!ret)
+		return 0;
 
+	addr = arch_get_platform_mac_address();
 	if (!addr)
 		return -ENODEV;