diff --git a/drivers/pci/controller/dwc/pcie-designware-host.c b/drivers/pci/controller/dwc/pcie-designware-host.c
index 6241d3f4e9d5..759a14389dd9 100644
--- a/drivers/pci/controller/dwc/pcie-designware-host.c
+++ b/drivers/pci/controller/dwc/pcie-designware-host.c
@@ -483,10 +483,12 @@ int dw_pcie_host_init(struct dw_pcie_rp *pp)
 		ret = dw_pcie_start_link(pci);
 		if (ret)
 			goto err_free_msi;
-	}
 
-	/* Ignore errors, the link may come up later */
-	dw_pcie_wait_for_link(pci);
+		if (pci->ops && pci->ops->start_link) {
+			/* Ignore errors, the link may come up later */
+			dw_pcie_wait_for_link(pci);
+		}
+	}
 
 	bridge->sysdata = pp;