diff --git a/drivers/net/phy/phy_device.c b/drivers/net/phy/phy_device.c
index 77068c545de0..cd5966b0db57 100644
--- a/drivers/net/phy/phy_device.c
+++ b/drivers/net/phy/phy_device.c
@@ -2044,11 +2044,14 @@ bool phy_validate_pause(struct phy_device *phydev,
 			struct ethtool_pauseparam *pp)
 {
 	if (!linkmode_test_bit(ETHTOOL_LINK_MODE_Pause_BIT,
-			       phydev->supported) ||
-	    (!linkmode_test_bit(ETHTOOL_LINK_MODE_Asym_Pause_BIT,
-				phydev->supported) &&
-	     pp->rx_pause != pp->tx_pause))
+			       phydev->supported) && pp->rx_pause)
 		return false;
+
+	if (!linkmode_test_bit(ETHTOOL_LINK_MODE_Asym_Pause_BIT,
+			       phydev->supported) &&
+	    pp->rx_pause != pp->tx_pause)
+		return false;
+
 	return true;
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(phy_validate_pause);