diff --git a/subsys/net/l2/ethernet/ethernet.c b/subsys/net/l2/ethernet/ethernet.c
index f5cd3bf0fd1..568611404bb 100644
--- a/subsys/net/l2/ethernet/ethernet.c
+++ b/subsys/net/l2/ethernet/ethernet.c
@@ -732,6 +732,7 @@ error:
 
 static inline int ethernet_enable(struct net_if *iface, bool state)
 {
+	int ret = 0;
 	const struct ethernet_api *eth =
 		net_if_get_device(iface)->api;
 
@@ -743,15 +744,15 @@ static inline int ethernet_enable(struct net_if *iface, bool state)
 		net_arp_clear_cache(iface);
 
 		if (eth->stop) {
-			eth->stop(net_if_get_device(iface));
+			ret = eth->stop(net_if_get_device(iface));
 		}
 	} else {
 		if (eth->start) {
-			eth->start(net_if_get_device(iface));
+			ret = eth->start(net_if_get_device(iface));
 		}
 	}
 
-	return 0;
+	return ret;
 }
 
 enum net_l2_flags ethernet_flags(struct net_if *iface)