diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/thunder/thunder_bgx.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/thunder/thunder_bgx.c
index e3acbdbc8099..8f4f831237cd 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/thunder/thunder_bgx.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/thunder/thunder_bgx.c
@@ -1523,11 +1523,11 @@ defer:
 	 * for phy devices we may have already found.
 	 */
 	while (lmac) {
+		lmac--;
 		if (bgx->lmac[lmac].phydev) {
 			put_device(&bgx->lmac[lmac].phydev->mdio.dev);
 			bgx->lmac[lmac].phydev = NULL;
 		}
-		lmac--;
 	}
 	of_node_put(node);
 	return -EPROBE_DEFER;