diff --git a/drivers/net/natsemi.c b/drivers/net/natsemi.c
index ffa0afd2eddc..4e21f5510b90 100644
--- a/drivers/net/natsemi.c
+++ b/drivers/net/natsemi.c
@@ -568,6 +568,8 @@ struct netdev_private {
 	u32 intr_status;
 	/* Do not touch the nic registers */
 	int hands_off;
+	/* Don't pay attention to the reported link state. */
+	int ignore_phy;
 	/* external phy that is used: only valid if dev->if_port != PORT_TP */
 	int mii;
 	int phy_addr_external;
@@ -696,7 +698,10 @@ static void __devinit natsemi_init_media (struct net_device *dev)
 	struct netdev_private *np = netdev_priv(dev);
 	u32 tmp;
 
-	netif_carrier_off(dev);
+	if (np->ignore_phy)
+		netif_carrier_on(dev);
+	else
+		netif_carrier_off(dev);
 
 	/* get the initial settings from hardware */
 	tmp            = mdio_read(dev, MII_BMCR);
@@ -806,8 +811,10 @@ static int __devinit natsemi_probe1 (struct pci_dev *pdev,
 	np->hands_off = 0;
 	np->intr_status = 0;
 	np->eeprom_size = natsemi_pci_info[chip_idx].eeprom_size;
+	np->ignore_phy = 0;
 
 	/* Initial port:
+	 * - If configured to ignore the PHY set up for external.
 	 * - If the nic was configured to use an external phy and if find_mii
 	 *   finds a phy: use external port, first phy that replies.
 	 * - Otherwise: internal port.
@@ -815,7 +822,7 @@ static int __devinit natsemi_probe1 (struct pci_dev *pdev,
 	 * The address would be used to access a phy over the mii bus, but
 	 * the internal phy is accessed through mapped registers.
 	 */
-	if (readl(ioaddr + ChipConfig) & CfgExtPhy)
+	if (np->ignore_phy || readl(ioaddr + ChipConfig) & CfgExtPhy)
 		dev->if_port = PORT_MII;
 	else
 		dev->if_port = PORT_TP;
@@ -825,7 +832,9 @@ static int __devinit natsemi_probe1 (struct pci_dev *pdev,
 
 	if (dev->if_port != PORT_TP) {
 		np->phy_addr_external = find_mii(dev);
-		if (np->phy_addr_external == PHY_ADDR_NONE) {
+		/* If we're ignoring the PHY it doesn't matter if we can't
+		 * find one. */
+		if (!np->ignore_phy && np->phy_addr_external == PHY_ADDR_NONE) {
 			dev->if_port = PORT_TP;
 			np->phy_addr_external = PHY_ADDR_INTERNAL;
 		}
@@ -891,6 +900,8 @@ static int __devinit natsemi_probe1 (struct pci_dev *pdev,
 		printk("%02x, IRQ %d", dev->dev_addr[i], irq);
 		if (dev->if_port == PORT_TP)
 			printk(", port TP.\n");
+		else if (np->ignore_phy)
+			printk(", port MII, ignoring PHY\n");
 		else
 			printk(", port MII, phy ad %d.\n", np->phy_addr_external);
 	}
@@ -1571,9 +1582,13 @@ static void check_link(struct net_device *dev)
 {
 	struct netdev_private *np = netdev_priv(dev);
 	void __iomem * ioaddr = ns_ioaddr(dev);
-	int duplex;
+	int duplex = np->duplex;
 	u16 bmsr;
 
+	/* If we are ignoring the PHY then don't try reading it. */
+	if (np->ignore_phy)
+		goto propagate_state;
+
 	/* The link status field is latched: it remains low after a temporary
 	 * link failure until it's read. We need the current link status,
 	 * thus read twice.
@@ -1585,7 +1600,7 @@ static void check_link(struct net_device *dev)
 		if (netif_carrier_ok(dev)) {
 			if (netif_msg_link(np))
 				printk(KERN_NOTICE "%s: link down.\n",
-					dev->name);
+				       dev->name);
 			netif_carrier_off(dev);
 			undo_cable_magic(dev);
 		}
@@ -1609,6 +1624,7 @@ static void check_link(struct net_device *dev)
 			duplex = 1;
 	}
 
+propagate_state:
 	/* if duplex is set then bit 28 must be set, too */
 	if (duplex ^ !!(np->rx_config & RxAcceptTx)) {
 		if (netif_msg_link(np))
@@ -2818,6 +2834,15 @@ static int netdev_set_ecmd(struct net_device *dev, struct ethtool_cmd *ecmd)
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
+	/*
+	 * If we're ignoring the PHY then autoneg and the internal
+	 * transciever are really not going to work so don't let the
+	 * user select them.
+	 */
+	if (np->ignore_phy && (ecmd->autoneg == AUTONEG_ENABLE ||
+			       ecmd->port == PORT_TP))
+		return -EINVAL;
+
 	/*
 	 * maxtxpkt, maxrxpkt: ignored for now.
 	 *