diff --git sys/dev/ixgbe/ixgbe_x550.c sys/dev/ixgbe/ixgbe_x550.c
index 1199d38..071df89 100644
--- sys/dev/ixgbe/ixgbe_x550.c
+++ sys/dev/ixgbe/ixgbe_x550.c
@@ -323,28 +323,37 @@ static void ixgbe_setup_mux_ctl(struct ixgbe_hw *hw)
 }
 
 /**
  * ixgbe_identify_phy_x550em - Get PHY type based on device id
  * @hw: pointer to hardware structure
  *
  * Returns error code
  */
 static s32 ixgbe_identify_phy_x550em(struct ixgbe_hw *hw)
 {
+	s32 ret_val;
+
 	switch (hw->device_id) {
 	case IXGBE_DEV_ID_X550EM_X_SFP:
 		/* set up for CS4227 usage */
 		hw->phy.phy_semaphore_mask = IXGBE_GSSR_SHARED_I2C_SM;
 		ixgbe_setup_mux_ctl(hw);
 		ixgbe_check_cs4227(hw);
 
-		return ixgbe_identify_module_generic(hw);
+		ret_val = ixgbe_identify_module_generic(hw);
+
+		/* Set PHY type none if no SFP detected */
+		if (ret_val == IXGBE_ERR_SFP_NOT_PRESENT) {
+			hw->phy.type = ixgbe_phy_none;
+			return IXGBE_SUCCESS;
+		}
+		return ret_val;
 		break;
 	case IXGBE_DEV_ID_X550EM_X_KX4:
 		hw->phy.type = ixgbe_phy_x550em_kx4;
 		break;
 	case IXGBE_DEV_ID_X550EM_X_KR:
 		hw->phy.type = ixgbe_phy_x550em_kr;
 		break;
 	case IXGBE_DEV_ID_X550EM_X_1G_T:
 	case IXGBE_DEV_ID_X550EM_X_10G_T:
 		return ixgbe_identify_phy_generic(hw);