diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_main.c
index 227415d61efc..687e2b0bb968 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_main.c
@@ -2756,7 +2756,6 @@ static void ixgbe_check_overtemp_subtask(struct ixgbe_adapter *adapter)
 {
 	struct ixgbe_hw *hw = &adapter->hw;
 	u32 eicr = adapter->interrupt_event;
-	s32 rc;
 
 	if (test_bit(__IXGBE_DOWN, &adapter->state))
 		return;
@@ -2790,14 +2789,13 @@ static void ixgbe_check_overtemp_subtask(struct ixgbe_adapter *adapter)
 		}
 
 		/* Check if this is not due to overtemp */
-		if (hw->phy.ops.check_overtemp(hw) != IXGBE_ERR_OVERTEMP)
+		if (!hw->phy.ops.check_overtemp(hw))
 			return;
 
 		break;
 	case IXGBE_DEV_ID_X550EM_A_1G_T:
 	case IXGBE_DEV_ID_X550EM_A_1G_T_L:
-		rc = hw->phy.ops.check_overtemp(hw);
-		if (rc != IXGBE_ERR_OVERTEMP)
+		if (!hw->phy.ops.check_overtemp(hw))
 			return;
 		break;
 	default:
@@ -7938,7 +7936,7 @@ static void ixgbe_service_timer(struct timer_list *t)
 static void ixgbe_phy_interrupt_subtask(struct ixgbe_adapter *adapter)
 {
 	struct ixgbe_hw *hw = &adapter->hw;
-	u32 status;
+	bool overtemp;
 
 	if (!(adapter->flags2 & IXGBE_FLAG2_PHY_INTERRUPT))
 		return;
@@ -7948,11 +7946,9 @@ static void ixgbe_phy_interrupt_subtask(struct ixgbe_adapter *adapter)
 	if (!hw->phy.ops.handle_lasi)
 		return;
 
-	status = hw->phy.ops.handle_lasi(&adapter->hw);
-	if (status != IXGBE_ERR_OVERTEMP)
-		return;
-
-	e_crit(drv, "%s\n", ixgbe_overheat_msg);
+	hw->phy.ops.handle_lasi(&adapter->hw, &overtemp);
+	if (overtemp)
+		e_crit(drv, "%s\n", ixgbe_overheat_msg);
 }
 
 static void ixgbe_reset_subtask(struct ixgbe_adapter *adapter)
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_phy.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_phy.c
index ca31638c6fb8..73b9c35acfd7 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_phy.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_phy.c
@@ -407,8 +407,7 @@ s32 ixgbe_reset_phy_generic(struct ixgbe_hw *hw)
 		return status;
 
 	/* Don't reset PHY if it's shut down due to overtemp. */
-	if (!hw->phy.reset_if_overtemp &&
-	    (IXGBE_ERR_OVERTEMP == hw->phy.ops.check_overtemp(hw)))
+	if (!hw->phy.reset_if_overtemp && hw->phy.ops.check_overtemp(hw))
 		return 0;
 
 	/* Blocked by MNG FW so bail */
@@ -2746,22 +2745,24 @@ static void ixgbe_i2c_bus_clear(struct ixgbe_hw *hw)
  *  @hw: pointer to hardware structure
  *
  *  Checks if the LASI temp alarm status was triggered due to overtemp
+ *
+ *  Return true when an overtemp event detected, otherwise false.
  **/
-s32 ixgbe_tn_check_overtemp(struct ixgbe_hw *hw)
+bool ixgbe_tn_check_overtemp(struct ixgbe_hw *hw)
 {
 	u16 phy_data = 0;
+	u32 status;
 
 	if (hw->device_id != IXGBE_DEV_ID_82599_T3_LOM)
-		return 0;
+		return false;
 
 	/* Check that the LASI temp alarm status was triggered */
-	hw->phy.ops.read_reg(hw, IXGBE_TN_LASI_STATUS_REG,
-			     MDIO_MMD_PMAPMD, &phy_data);
-
-	if (!(phy_data & IXGBE_TN_LASI_STATUS_TEMP_ALARM))
-		return 0;
+	status = hw->phy.ops.read_reg(hw, IXGBE_TN_LASI_STATUS_REG,
+				      MDIO_MMD_PMAPMD, &phy_data);
+	if (status)
+		return false;
 
-	return IXGBE_ERR_OVERTEMP;
+	return !!(phy_data & IXGBE_TN_LASI_STATUS_TEMP_ALARM);
 }
 
 /** ixgbe_set_copper_phy_power - Control power for copper phy
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_phy.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_phy.h
index 6544c4539c0d..ef72729d7c93 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_phy.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_phy.h
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ s32 ixgbe_identify_sfp_module_generic(struct ixgbe_hw *hw);
 s32 ixgbe_get_sfp_init_sequence_offsets(struct ixgbe_hw *hw,
 					u16 *list_offset,
 					u16 *data_offset);
-s32 ixgbe_tn_check_overtemp(struct ixgbe_hw *hw);
+bool ixgbe_tn_check_overtemp(struct ixgbe_hw *hw);
 s32 ixgbe_read_i2c_byte_generic(struct ixgbe_hw *hw, u8 byte_offset,
 				u8 dev_addr, u8 *data);
 s32 ixgbe_read_i2c_byte_generic_unlocked(struct ixgbe_hw *hw, u8 byte_offset,
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_type.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_type.h
index 2b00db92b08f..91c9ecca4cb5 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_type.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_type.h
@@ -3509,10 +3509,10 @@ struct ixgbe_phy_operations {
 	s32 (*read_i2c_sff8472)(struct ixgbe_hw *, u8 , u8 *);
 	s32 (*read_i2c_eeprom)(struct ixgbe_hw *, u8 , u8 *);
 	s32 (*write_i2c_eeprom)(struct ixgbe_hw *, u8, u8);
-	s32 (*check_overtemp)(struct ixgbe_hw *);
+	bool (*check_overtemp)(struct ixgbe_hw *);
 	s32 (*set_phy_power)(struct ixgbe_hw *, bool on);
 	s32 (*enter_lplu)(struct ixgbe_hw *);
-	s32 (*handle_lasi)(struct ixgbe_hw *hw);
+	s32 (*handle_lasi)(struct ixgbe_hw *hw, bool *);
 	s32 (*read_i2c_byte_unlocked)(struct ixgbe_hw *, u8 offset, u8 addr,
 				      u8 *value);
 	s32 (*write_i2c_byte_unlocked)(struct ixgbe_hw *, u8 offset, u8 addr,
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_x550.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_x550.c
index b3509b617a4e..e0cf0722b58c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_x550.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_x550.c
@@ -600,8 +600,10 @@ static s32 ixgbe_setup_fw_link(struct ixgbe_hw *hw)
 	rc = ixgbe_fw_phy_activity(hw, FW_PHY_ACT_SETUP_LINK, &setup);
 	if (rc)
 		return rc;
+
 	if (setup[0] == FW_PHY_ACT_SETUP_LINK_RSP_DOWN)
-		return IXGBE_ERR_OVERTEMP;
+		return -EIO;
+
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -2367,18 +2369,18 @@ static s32 ixgbe_get_link_capabilities_X550em(struct ixgbe_hw *hw,
  * @hw: pointer to hardware structure
  * @lsc: pointer to boolean flag which indicates whether external Base T
  *	 PHY interrupt is lsc
+ * @is_overtemp: indicate whether an overtemp event encountered
  *
  * Determime if external Base T PHY interrupt cause is high temperature
  * failure alarm or link status change.
- *
- * Return IXGBE_ERR_OVERTEMP if interrupt is high temperature
- * failure alarm, else return PHY access status.
  **/
-static s32 ixgbe_get_lasi_ext_t_x550em(struct ixgbe_hw *hw, bool *lsc)
+static s32 ixgbe_get_lasi_ext_t_x550em(struct ixgbe_hw *hw, bool *lsc,
+				       bool *is_overtemp)
 {
 	u32 status;
 	u16 reg;
 
+	*is_overtemp = false;
 	*lsc = false;
 
 	/* Vendor alarm triggered */
@@ -2410,7 +2412,8 @@ static s32 ixgbe_get_lasi_ext_t_x550em(struct ixgbe_hw *hw, bool *lsc)
 	if (reg & IXGBE_MDIO_GLOBAL_ALM_1_HI_TMP_FAIL) {
 		/* power down the PHY in case the PHY FW didn't already */
 		ixgbe_set_copper_phy_power(hw, false);
-		return IXGBE_ERR_OVERTEMP;
+		*is_overtemp = true;
+		return -EIO;
 	}
 	if (reg & IXGBE_MDIO_GLOBAL_ALM_1_DEV_FAULT) {
 		/*  device fault alarm triggered */
@@ -2424,7 +2427,8 @@ static s32 ixgbe_get_lasi_ext_t_x550em(struct ixgbe_hw *hw, bool *lsc)
 		if (reg == IXGBE_MDIO_GLOBAL_FAULT_MSG_HI_TMP) {
 			/* power down the PHY in case the PHY FW didn't */
 			ixgbe_set_copper_phy_power(hw, false);
-			return IXGBE_ERR_OVERTEMP;
+			*is_overtemp = true;
+			return -EIO;
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -2460,12 +2464,12 @@ static s32 ixgbe_get_lasi_ext_t_x550em(struct ixgbe_hw *hw, bool *lsc)
  **/
 static s32 ixgbe_enable_lasi_ext_t_x550em(struct ixgbe_hw *hw)
 {
+	bool lsc, overtemp;
 	u32 status;
 	u16 reg;
-	bool lsc;
 
 	/* Clear interrupt flags */
-	status = ixgbe_get_lasi_ext_t_x550em(hw, &lsc);
+	status = ixgbe_get_lasi_ext_t_x550em(hw, &lsc, &overtemp);
 
 	/* Enable link status change alarm */
 
@@ -2544,21 +2548,20 @@ static s32 ixgbe_enable_lasi_ext_t_x550em(struct ixgbe_hw *hw)
 /**
  * ixgbe_handle_lasi_ext_t_x550em - Handle external Base T PHY interrupt
  * @hw: pointer to hardware structure
+ * @is_overtemp: indicate whether an overtemp event encountered
  *
  * Handle external Base T PHY interrupt. If high temperature
  * failure alarm then return error, else if link status change
  * then setup internal/external PHY link
- *
- * Return IXGBE_ERR_OVERTEMP if interrupt is high temperature
- * failure alarm, else return PHY access status.
  **/
-static s32 ixgbe_handle_lasi_ext_t_x550em(struct ixgbe_hw *hw)
+static s32 ixgbe_handle_lasi_ext_t_x550em(struct ixgbe_hw *hw,
+					  bool *is_overtemp)
 {
 	struct ixgbe_phy_info *phy = &hw->phy;
 	bool lsc;
 	u32 status;
 
-	status = ixgbe_get_lasi_ext_t_x550em(hw, &lsc);
+	status = ixgbe_get_lasi_ext_t_x550em(hw, &lsc, is_overtemp);
 	if (status)
 		return status;
 
@@ -3185,21 +3188,23 @@ static s32 ixgbe_reset_phy_fw(struct ixgbe_hw *hw)
 /**
  * ixgbe_check_overtemp_fw - Check firmware-controlled PHYs for overtemp
  * @hw: pointer to hardware structure
+ *
+ * Return true when an overtemp event detected, otherwise false.
  */
-static s32 ixgbe_check_overtemp_fw(struct ixgbe_hw *hw)
+static bool ixgbe_check_overtemp_fw(struct ixgbe_hw *hw)
 {
 	u32 store[FW_PHY_ACT_DATA_COUNT] = { 0 };
 	s32 rc;
 
 	rc = ixgbe_fw_phy_activity(hw, FW_PHY_ACT_GET_LINK_INFO, &store);
 	if (rc)
-		return rc;
+		return false;
 
 	if (store[0] & FW_PHY_ACT_GET_LINK_INFO_TEMP) {
 		ixgbe_shutdown_fw_phy(hw);
-		return IXGBE_ERR_OVERTEMP;
+		return true;
 	}
-	return 0;
+	return false;
 }
 
 /**
