diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/stmmac_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/stmmac_main.c
index 2bb61757e320..ddbcbe3886c0 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/stmmac_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/stmmac_main.c
@@ -400,13 +400,7 @@ static void stmmac_enable_hw_lpi_timer(struct stmmac_priv *priv)
 	stmmac_set_eee_lpi_timer(priv, priv->hw, priv->tx_lpi_timer);
 }
 
-/**
- * stmmac_enable_eee_mode - check and enter in LPI mode
- * @priv: driver private structure
- * Description: this function is to verify and enter in LPI mode in case of
- * EEE.
- */
-static int stmmac_enable_eee_mode(struct stmmac_priv *priv)
+static bool stmmac_eee_tx_busy(struct stmmac_priv *priv)
 {
 	u32 tx_cnt = priv->plat->tx_queues_to_use;
 	u32 queue;
@@ -416,9 +410,23 @@ static int stmmac_enable_eee_mode(struct stmmac_priv *priv)
 		struct stmmac_tx_queue *tx_q = &priv->dma_conf.tx_queue[queue];
 
 		if (tx_q->dirty_tx != tx_q->cur_tx)
-			return -EBUSY; /* still unfinished work */
+			return true; /* still unfinished work */
 	}
 
+	return false;
+}
+
+/**
+ * stmmac_enable_eee_mode - check and enter in LPI mode
+ * @priv: driver private structure
+ * Description: this function is to verify and enter in LPI mode in case of
+ * EEE.
+ */
+static int stmmac_enable_eee_mode(struct stmmac_priv *priv)
+{
+	if (stmmac_eee_tx_busy(priv))
+		return -EBUSY; /* still unfinished work */
+
 	/* Check and enter in LPI mode */
 	if (!priv->tx_path_in_lpi_mode)
 		stmmac_set_eee_mode(priv, priv->hw,