!(bp->phy_flags & BNX2_PHY_FLAG_REMOTE_PHY_CAP))
                goto err_out_unlock;
 
+       /* If device is down, we can store the settings only if the user
+        * is setting the currently active port.
+        */
+       if (!netif_running(dev) && cmd->port != bp->phy_port)
+               goto err_out_unlock;
+
        if (cmd->autoneg == AUTONEG_ENABLE) {
                autoneg |= AUTONEG_SPEED;
 
        bp->req_line_speed = req_line_speed;
        bp->req_duplex = req_duplex;
 
-       err = bnx2_setup_phy(bp, cmd->port);
+       err = 0;
+       /* If device is down, the new settings will be picked up when it is
+        * brought up.
+        */
+       if (netif_running(dev))
+               err = bnx2_setup_phy(bp, cmd->port);
 
 err_out_unlock:
        spin_unlock_bh(&bp->phy_lock);