diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/display/intel_tc.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/display/intel_tc.c
index 0e885440be24..1b5b4d252d5b 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/display/intel_tc.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/display/intel_tc.c
@@ -386,9 +386,9 @@ static bool icl_tc_phy_is_owned(struct intel_digital_port *dig_port)
 				PORT_TX_DFLEXDPCSSS(dig_port->tc_phy_fia));
 	if (val == 0xffffffff) {
 		drm_dbg_kms(&i915->drm,
-			    "Port %s: PHY in TCCOLD, assume safe mode\n",
+			    "Port %s: PHY in TCCOLD, assume not owned\n",
 			    dig_port->tc_port_name);
-		return true;
+		return false;
 	}
 
 	return val & DP_PHY_MODE_STATUS_NOT_SAFE(dig_port->tc_phy_fia_idx);