diff --git a/drivers/net/usb/ax88179_178a.c b/drivers/net/usb/ax88179_178a.c
index 6d31061818e9..53f6efc22f5c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/usb/ax88179_178a.c
+++ b/drivers/net/usb/ax88179_178a.c
@@ -174,7 +174,6 @@ struct ax88179_data {
 	u32 wol_supported;
 	u32 wolopts;
 	u8 disconnecting;
-	u8 initialized;
 };
 
 struct ax88179_int_data {
@@ -1676,12 +1675,21 @@ static int ax88179_reset(struct usbnet *dev)
 
 static int ax88179_net_reset(struct usbnet *dev)
 {
-	struct ax88179_data *ax179_data = dev->driver_priv;
+	u16 tmp16;
 
-	if (ax179_data->initialized)
+	ax88179_read_cmd(dev, AX_ACCESS_PHY, AX88179_PHY_ID, GMII_PHY_PHYSR,
+			 2, &tmp16);
+	if (tmp16) {
+		ax88179_read_cmd(dev, AX_ACCESS_MAC, AX_MEDIUM_STATUS_MODE,
+				 2, 2, &tmp16);
+		if (!(tmp16 & AX_MEDIUM_RECEIVE_EN)) {
+			tmp16 |= AX_MEDIUM_RECEIVE_EN;
+			ax88179_write_cmd(dev, AX_ACCESS_MAC, AX_MEDIUM_STATUS_MODE,
+					  2, 2, &tmp16);
+		}
+	} else {
 		ax88179_reset(dev);
-	else
-		ax179_data->initialized = 1;
+	}
 
 	return 0;
 }