diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_phy.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_phy.c
index 315f0597fbc0..88ade175185a 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_phy.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_phy.c
@@ -2026,6 +2026,7 @@ static s32 ixgbe_clock_in_i2c_byte(struct ixgbe_hw *hw, u8 *data)
 	s32 i;
 	bool bit = false;
 
+	*data = 0;
 	for (i = 7; i >= 0; i--) {
 		ixgbe_clock_in_i2c_bit(hw, &bit);
 		*data |= bit << i;