diff --git a/hw/net/cadence_gem.c b/hw/net/cadence_gem.c
index 92dc2f21fa..e34b25e734 100644
--- a/hw/net/cadence_gem.c
+++ b/hw/net/cadence_gem.c
@@ -1093,7 +1093,7 @@ static uint64_t gem_read(void *opaque, hwaddr offset, unsigned size)
             uint32_t phy_addr, reg_num;
 
             phy_addr = (retval & GEM_PHYMNTNC_ADDR) >> GEM_PHYMNTNC_ADDR_SHFT;
-            if (phy_addr == BOARD_PHY_ADDRESS) {
+            if (phy_addr == BOARD_PHY_ADDRESS || phy_addr == 0) {
                 reg_num = (retval & GEM_PHYMNTNC_REG) >> GEM_PHYMNTNC_REG_SHIFT;
                 retval &= 0xFFFF0000;
                 retval |= gem_phy_read(s, reg_num);
@@ -1193,7 +1193,7 @@ static void gem_write(void *opaque, hwaddr offset, uint64_t val,
             uint32_t phy_addr, reg_num;
 
             phy_addr = (val & GEM_PHYMNTNC_ADDR) >> GEM_PHYMNTNC_ADDR_SHFT;
-            if (phy_addr == BOARD_PHY_ADDRESS) {
+            if (phy_addr == BOARD_PHY_ADDRESS || phy_addr == 0) {
                 reg_num = (val & GEM_PHYMNTNC_REG) >> GEM_PHYMNTNC_REG_SHIFT;
                 gem_phy_write(s, reg_num, val);
             }