p->phy_interface = mode;
 
        phy_dn = of_parse_phandle(port_dn, "phy-handle", 0);
-       if (of_phy_is_fixed_link(port_dn)) {
+       if (!phy_dn && of_phy_is_fixed_link(port_dn)) {
                /* In the case of a fixed PHY, the DT node associated
                 * to the fixed PHY is the Port DT node
                 */
                        return ret;
                }
                phy_is_fixed = true;
-               phy_dn = port_dn;
+               phy_dn = of_node_get(port_dn);
        }
 
        if (ds->ops->get_phy_flags)
                        ret = dsa_slave_phy_connect(p, slave_dev, phy_id);
                        if (ret) {
                                netdev_err(slave_dev, "failed to connect to phy%d: %d\n", phy_id, ret);
+                               of_node_put(phy_dn);
                                return ret;
                        }
                } else {
                                                phy_flags,
                                                p->phy_interface);
                }
+
+               of_node_put(phy_dn);
        }
 
        if (p->phy && phy_is_fixed)