diff --git a/hw/net/xilinx_axienet.c b/hw/net/xilinx_axienet.c
index d85f8bb23f..970732b162 100644
--- a/hw/net/xilinx_axienet.c
+++ b/hw/net/xilinx_axienet.c
@@ -141,6 +141,10 @@ tdk_write(struct PHY *phy, unsigned int req, unsigned int data)
     regnum = req & 0x1f;
     DPHY(qemu_log("%s reg[%d] = %x\n", __func__, regnum, data));
     switch (regnum) {
+        case 2:
+        case 3:
+            /* Writes to PHY Identification registers are disallowed */
+            break;
         default:
             phy->regs[regnum] = data;
             break;