diff --git a/arch/arm/cpu/armv7/sunxi/board.c b/arch/arm/cpu/armv7/sunxi/board.c
index a82c8b9..030a711 100644
--- a/arch/arm/cpu/armv7/sunxi/board.c
+++ b/arch/arm/cpu/armv7/sunxi/board.c
@@ -223,6 +223,7 @@ int cpu_eth_init(bd_t *bis)
 	__maybe_unused int rc;
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_MACPWR
+	gpio_request(CONFIG_MACPWR, "MAC Power");
 	gpio_direction_output(CONFIG_MACPWR, 1);
 	mdelay(200);
 #endif