diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40e/i40e_ethtool.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40e/i40e_ethtool.c
index 6203d362438c..de0dfe340494 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40e/i40e_ethtool.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40e/i40e_ethtool.c
@@ -2010,7 +2010,9 @@ static int i40e_set_phys_id(struct net_device *netdev,
 		if (!(pf->hw_features & I40E_HW_PHY_CONTROLS_LEDS)) {
 			pf->led_status = i40e_led_get(hw);
 		} else {
-			i40e_aq_set_phy_debug(hw, I40E_PHY_DEBUG_ALL, NULL);
+			if (!(hw->flags & I40E_HW_FLAG_AQ_PHY_ACCESS_CAPABLE))
+				i40e_aq_set_phy_debug(hw, I40E_PHY_DEBUG_ALL,
+						      NULL);
 			ret = i40e_led_get_phy(hw, &temp_status,
 					       &pf->phy_led_val);
 			pf->led_status = temp_status;
@@ -2035,7 +2037,8 @@ static int i40e_set_phys_id(struct net_device *netdev,
 			ret = i40e_led_set_phy(hw, false, pf->led_status,
 					       (pf->phy_led_val |
 					       I40E_PHY_LED_MODE_ORIG));
-			i40e_aq_set_phy_debug(hw, 0, NULL);
+			if (!(hw->flags & I40E_HW_FLAG_AQ_PHY_ACCESS_CAPABLE))
+				i40e_aq_set_phy_debug(hw, 0, NULL);
 		}
 		break;
 	default: