diff --git a/drivers/net/usb/ipheth.c b/drivers/net/usb/ipheth.c
index 13381d87eeb0..17844c07305c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/usb/ipheth.c
+++ b/drivers/net/usb/ipheth.c
@@ -253,13 +253,14 @@ static int ipheth_carrier_set(struct ipheth_device *dev)
 			0x02, /* index */
 			dev->ctrl_buf, IPHETH_CTRL_BUF_SIZE,
 			IPHETH_CTRL_TIMEOUT);
-	if (retval < 0) {
+	if (retval <= 0) {
 		dev_err(&dev->intf->dev, "%s: usb_control_msg: %d\n",
 			__func__, retval);
 		return retval;
 	}
 
-	if (dev->ctrl_buf[0] == IPHETH_CARRIER_ON) {
+	if ((retval == 1 && dev->ctrl_buf[0] == IPHETH_CARRIER_ON) ||
+	    (retval >= 2 && dev->ctrl_buf[1] == IPHETH_CARRIER_ON)) {
 		netif_carrier_on(dev->net);
 		if (dev->tx_urb->status != -EINPROGRESS)
 			netif_wake_queue(dev->net);