diff --git a/drivers/net/phy/phylink.c b/drivers/net/phy/phylink.c
index 4309317de3d1..3e9957b6aa14 100644
--- a/drivers/net/phy/phylink.c
+++ b/drivers/net/phy/phylink.c
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ struct phylink {
 	unsigned int pcs_neg_mode;
 	unsigned int pcs_state;
 
-	bool mac_link_dropped;
+	bool link_failed;
 	bool using_mac_select_pcs;
 
 	struct sfp_bus *sfp_bus;
@@ -1475,9 +1475,9 @@ static void phylink_resolve(struct work_struct *w)
 		cur_link_state = pl->old_link_state;
 
 	if (pl->phylink_disable_state) {
-		pl->mac_link_dropped = false;
+		pl->link_failed = false;
 		link_state.link = false;
-	} else if (pl->mac_link_dropped) {
+	} else if (pl->link_failed) {
 		link_state.link = false;
 		retrigger = true;
 	} else {
@@ -1572,7 +1572,7 @@ static void phylink_resolve(struct work_struct *w)
 			phylink_link_up(pl, link_state);
 	}
 	if (!link_state.link && retrigger) {
-		pl->mac_link_dropped = false;
+		pl->link_failed = false;
 		queue_work(system_power_efficient_wq, &pl->resolve);
 	}
 	mutex_unlock(&pl->state_mutex);
@@ -1835,6 +1835,8 @@ static void phylink_phy_change(struct phy_device *phydev, bool up)
 		pl->phy_state.pause |= MLO_PAUSE_RX;
 	pl->phy_state.interface = phydev->interface;
 	pl->phy_state.link = up;
+	if (!up)
+		pl->link_failed = true;
 	mutex_unlock(&pl->state_mutex);
 
 	phylink_run_resolve(pl);
@@ -2158,7 +2160,7 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(phylink_disconnect_phy);
 static void phylink_link_changed(struct phylink *pl, bool up, const char *what)
 {
 	if (!up)
-		pl->mac_link_dropped = true;
+		pl->link_failed = true;
 	phylink_run_resolve(pl);
 	phylink_dbg(pl, "%s link %s\n", what, up ? "up" : "down");
 }
@@ -2792,7 +2794,7 @@ int phylink_ethtool_set_pauseparam(struct phylink *pl,
 	 * link will cycle.
 	 */
 	if (manual_changed) {
-		pl->mac_link_dropped = true;
+		pl->link_failed = true;
 		phylink_run_resolve(pl);
 	}