diff --git a/sys/dev/axgbe/xgbe-phy-v2.c b/sys/dev/axgbe/xgbe-phy-v2.c
index 41faf4da852..4582d87d4db 100644
--- a/sys/dev/axgbe/xgbe-phy-v2.c
+++ b/sys/dev/axgbe/xgbe-phy-v2.c
@@ -1192,6 +1192,9 @@ xgbe_phy_sfp_external_phy(struct xgbe_prv_data *pdata)
 
 	phy_data->sfp_phy_avail = 0;
 
+	if (phy_data->sfp_base != XGBE_SFP_BASE_1000_T)
+		return;
+
 	/* Check access to the PHY by reading CTRL1 */
 	ret = xgbe_phy_i2c_mii_read(pdata, MII_BMCR);
 	if (ret < 0) {