diff --git a/machine.c b/machine.c
index 091097a..c27b92a 100644
--- a/machine.c
+++ b/machine.c
@@ -415,6 +415,7 @@ void machine_custom_init(void) { }
 __code const struct machine machine = {
 	.machine_name = "SWTGW218AS 8+1 Managed Switch",
 	.isRTL8373 = 1,
+	.mac_flash_offset = 0x1FC000,
 	.min_port = 0,
 	.max_port = 8,
 	.n_sfp = 1,
diff --git a/machine.h b/machine.h
index c3368f6..523beea 100644
--- a/machine.h
+++ b/machine.h
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ typedef struct machine {
 	uint32_t led_sets[4][4];
 	uint8_t led_mux_custom;
 	uint8_t led_mux[28];
+	uint32_t mac_flash_offset;
 };
 
 typedef struct machine_runtime
diff --git a/rtlplayground.c b/rtlplayground.c
index ce73963..bdb8ab3 100644
--- a/rtlplayground.c
+++ b/rtlplayground.c
@@ -2112,20 +2112,28 @@ void main(void)
 	uip_ipaddr(&uip_hostaddr, ownIP[0], ownIP[1], ownIP[2], ownIP[3]);
 	uip_ipaddr(&uip_draddr, gatewayIP[0], gatewayIP[1], gatewayIP[2], gatewayIP[3]);
 	uip_ipaddr(&uip_netmask, netmask[0], netmask[1], netmask[2], netmask[3]);
-	reg_read_m(RTL837X_REG_CHIP_UUID);
-#ifdef DEBUG
-	print_string("SoC UUID: "); print_sfr_data();
-#endif
-	uip_ethaddr.addr[0] = 0x06;  // LAA prefix
-	uip_ethaddr.addr[3] = sfr_data[0] ^ sfr_data[3];
-	uip_ethaddr.addr[4] = sfr_data[1] ^ sfr_data[3];
-	uip_ethaddr.addr[5] = sfr_data[2] ^ sfr_data[3];
-	reg_read_m(RTL837X_REG_CHIP_LOT_NO);
-#ifdef DEBUG
-	print_string(", LOT: "); print_sfr_data(); write_char(' ');
-#endif
-	uip_ethaddr.addr[1] = sfr_data[0] ^ sfr_data[2];
-	uip_ethaddr.addr[2] = sfr_data[1] ^ sfr_data[3];
+	uip_ethaddr.addr[0] = 0xff;
+	if (machine.mac_flash_offset) {
+		flash_region.addr = machine.mac_flash_offset;
+		flash_region.len = FLASH_BUF_SIZE;
+		flash_read_bulk(flash_buf);
+		// accept only a real unicast, globally-administered address (reject blank/LAA/multicast/all-zero OUI)
+		if (flash_buf[0] != 0xff && !(flash_buf[0] & 0x03) && (flash_buf[0] | flash_buf[1] | flash_buf[2])) {
+			uip_ethaddr.addr[0] = flash_buf[0]; uip_ethaddr.addr[1] = flash_buf[1];
+			uip_ethaddr.addr[2] = flash_buf[2]; uip_ethaddr.addr[3] = flash_buf[3];
+			uip_ethaddr.addr[4] = flash_buf[4]; uip_ethaddr.addr[5] = flash_buf[5];
+		}
+	}
+	if (uip_ethaddr.addr[0] == 0xff) {  // no valid flash MAC -> generate locally-administered
+		reg_read_m(RTL837X_REG_CHIP_UUID);
+		uip_ethaddr.addr[0] = 0x06;  // LAA prefix
+		uip_ethaddr.addr[3] = sfr_data[0] ^ sfr_data[3];
+		uip_ethaddr.addr[4] = sfr_data[1] ^ sfr_data[3];
+		uip_ethaddr.addr[5] = sfr_data[2] ^ sfr_data[3];
+		reg_read_m(RTL837X_REG_CHIP_LOT_NO);
+		uip_ethaddr.addr[1] = sfr_data[0] ^ sfr_data[2];
+		uip_ethaddr.addr[2] = sfr_data[1] ^ sfr_data[3];
+	}
 	print_string("Setting MAC to: ");
 	print_byte(uip_ethaddr.addr[0]); write_char(':'); print_byte(uip_ethaddr.addr[1]); write_char(':');
 	print_byte(uip_ethaddr.addr[2]); write_char(':'); print_byte(uip_ethaddr.addr[3]); write_char(':');