diff --git a/drivers/net/arm/at91_ether.c b/drivers/net/arm/at91_ether.c
index 0fa5346..6f431a8 100644
--- a/drivers/net/arm/at91_ether.c
+++ b/drivers/net/arm/at91_ether.c
@@ -1080,7 +1080,8 @@
 		init_timer(&lp->check_timer);
 		lp->check_timer.data = (unsigned long)dev;
 		lp->check_timer.function = at91ether_check_link;
-	}
+	} else if (lp->board_data.phy_irq_pin >= 32)
+		gpio_request(lp->board_data.phy_irq_pin, "ethernet_phy");
 
 	/* Display ethernet banner */
 	printk(KERN_INFO "%s: AT91 ethernet at 0x%08x int=%d %s%s (%s)\n",
@@ -1167,6 +1168,9 @@
 	struct net_device *dev = platform_get_drvdata(pdev);
 	struct at91_private *lp = netdev_priv(dev);
 
+	if (lp->board_data.phy_irq_pin >= 32)
+		gpio_free(lp->board_data.phy_irq_pin);
+
 	unregister_netdev(dev);
 	free_irq(dev->irq, dev);
 	dma_free_coherent(NULL, sizeof(struct recv_desc_bufs), lp->dlist, (dma_addr_t)lp->dlist_phys);