diff --git a/sys/dev/dpaa/fman_mdio.c b/sys/dev/dpaa/fman_mdio.c
index fcaca5c580c..5a81424d03a 100644
--- a/sys/dev/dpaa/fman_mdio.c
+++ b/sys/dev/dpaa/fman_mdio.c
@@ -204,7 +204,8 @@ pqmdio_miibus_writereg(device_t dev, int phy, int reg, int value)
 	return (0);
 }
 
-DRIVER_MODULE(pqmdio, fman, pqmdio_driver, 0, 0);
+EARLY_DRIVER_MODULE(pqmdio, fman, pqmdio_driver, 0, 0,
+    BUS_PASS_RESOURCE);
 DRIVER_MODULE(miibus, pqmdio, miibus_driver, 0, 0);
 MODULE_DEPEND(pqmdio, miibus, 1, 1, 1);