diff --git a/hw/arm/fsl-imx6ul.c b/hw/arm/fsl-imx6ul.c
index d88d6cc1c5..2189dcbb72 100644
--- a/hw/arm/fsl-imx6ul.c
+++ b/hw/arm/fsl-imx6ul.c
@@ -407,7 +407,23 @@ static void fsl_imx6ul_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
 
     /*
      * Ethernet
+     *
+     * We must use two loops since phy_connected affects the other interface
+     * and we have to set all properties before calling sysbus_realize().
      */
+    for (i = 0; i < FSL_IMX6UL_NUM_ETHS; i++) {
+        object_property_set_bool(OBJECT(&s->eth[i]), "phy-connected",
+                                 s->phy_connected[i], &error_abort);
+        /*
+         * If the MDIO bus on this controller is not connected, assume the
+         * other controller provides support for it.
+         */
+        if (!s->phy_connected[i]) {
+            object_property_set_link(OBJECT(&s->eth[1 - i]), "phy-consumer",
+                                     OBJECT(&s->eth[i]), &error_abort);
+        }
+    }
+
     for (i = 0; i < FSL_IMX6UL_NUM_ETHS; i++) {
         static const hwaddr FSL_IMX6UL_ENETn_ADDR[FSL_IMX6UL_NUM_ETHS] = {
             FSL_IMX6UL_ENET1_ADDR,
@@ -620,6 +636,10 @@ static void fsl_imx6ul_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
 static Property fsl_imx6ul_properties[] = {
     DEFINE_PROP_UINT32("fec1-phy-num", FslIMX6ULState, phy_num[0], 0),
     DEFINE_PROP_UINT32("fec2-phy-num", FslIMX6ULState, phy_num[1], 1),
+    DEFINE_PROP_BOOL("fec1-phy-connected", FslIMX6ULState, phy_connected[0],
+                     true),
+    DEFINE_PROP_BOOL("fec2-phy-connected", FslIMX6ULState, phy_connected[1],
+                     true),
     DEFINE_PROP_END_OF_LIST(),
 };
 
diff --git a/include/hw/arm/fsl-imx6ul.h b/include/hw/arm/fsl-imx6ul.h
index 1952cb984d..9ee15ae38d 100644
--- a/include/hw/arm/fsl-imx6ul.h
+++ b/include/hw/arm/fsl-imx6ul.h
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ struct FslIMX6ULState {
     MemoryRegion       ocram_alias;
 
     uint32_t           phy_num[FSL_IMX6UL_NUM_ETHS];
+    bool               phy_connected[FSL_IMX6UL_NUM_ETHS];
 };
 
 enum FslIMX6ULMemoryMap {