diff --git a/hw/e1000.c b/hw/e1000.c
index ee85c53d38..56f50d42fe 100644
--- a/hw/e1000.c
+++ b/hw/e1000.c
@@ -166,11 +166,6 @@ static void
 set_phy_ctrl(E1000State *s, int index, uint16_t val)
 {
     if ((val & MII_CR_AUTO_NEG_EN) && (val & MII_CR_RESTART_AUTO_NEG)) {
-        /* no need auto-negotiation if link was down */
-        if (s->nic->nc.link_down) {
-            s->phy_reg[PHY_STATUS] |= MII_SR_AUTONEG_COMPLETE;
-            return;
-        }
         s->nic->nc.link_down = true;
         e1000_link_down(s);
         s->phy_reg[PHY_STATUS] &= ~MII_SR_AUTONEG_COMPLETE;