diff --git a/target/linux/ar71xx/files/drivers/net/ag71xx/ag71xx_phy.c b/target/linux/ar71xx/files/drivers/net/ag71xx/ag71xx_phy.c
index 75500277f4..85f17b9feb 100644
--- a/target/linux/ar71xx/files/drivers/net/ag71xx/ag71xx_phy.c
+++ b/target/linux/ar71xx/files/drivers/net/ag71xx/ag71xx_phy.c
@@ -59,15 +59,19 @@ void ag71xx_phy_start(struct ag71xx *ag)
 void ag71xx_phy_stop(struct ag71xx *ag)
 {
 	struct ag71xx_platform_data *pdata = ag71xx_get_pdata(ag);
+	unsigned long flags;
 
-	if (ag->phy_dev) {
+	if (ag->phy_dev)
 		phy_stop(ag->phy_dev);
-	} else {
-		if (pdata->has_ar7240_switch)
+	else if (pdata->has_ar7240_switch)
 			ag71xx_ar7240_stop(ag);
+
+	spin_lock_irqsave(&ag->lock, flags);
+	if (ag->link) {
 		ag->link = 0;
 		ag71xx_link_adjust(ag);
 	}
+	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ag->lock, flags);
 }
 
 static int ag71xx_phy_connect_fixed(struct ag71xx *ag)