diff --git a/boot.c b/boot.c
index 66ccd38b..9e271660 100644
--- a/boot.c
+++ b/boot.c
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ extern __code const struct machine machine;
 extern __xdata struct machine_runtime machine_detected;
 extern __xdata uint8_t sfr_data[4];
 extern volatile __xdata uint32_t ticks;
+__xdata uint32_t rtl8224_release_tick;
 extern __xdata uint8_t tx_seq;
 extern __code const uint8_t * __code const hex;
 
@@ -240,10 +241,10 @@ void rtl8224_enable(void) __banked
 	reg_bit_clear(RTL837X_REG_GPIO_32_63_OUTPUT, 4);
 	// Configure Pin as output
 	reg_bit_set(RTL837X_REG_GPIO_32_63_DIRECTION, 4);
-	delay(100);
+	delay(4);
 	// Set pin 4 high
 	reg_bit_set(RTL837X_REG_GPIO_32_63_OUTPUT, 4);
-	delay(500);
+	rtl8224_release_tick = ticks;
 }
 
 
diff --git a/rtl837x_phy.c b/rtl837x_phy.c
index eb106d98..aa9c2ba5 100644
--- a/rtl837x_phy.c
+++ b/rtl837x_phy.c
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@
 extern __code const uint16_t bit_mask[16];
 extern __code const struct machine machine;
 extern __xdata struct machine_runtime machine_detected;
+extern volatile __xdata uint32_t ticks;
+extern __xdata uint32_t rtl8224_release_tick;
 
 __xdata struct phy_settings phy_settings;
 
@@ -214,9 +216,20 @@ void phy_config(uint8_t phy) __banked
 }
 
 
+void rtl8224_wait_ready(void) __banked
+{
+	do {
+		rtl8224_read_reg_u16(RTL837X_REG_CHIP_ID + 1);
+		if (SFR_DATA_U16 == 0x8224)
+			return;
+	} while ((ticks - rtl8224_release_tick) < (SYS_TICK_HZ * 5 / 2));
+	print_string("\r\nRTL8224 not responding\r\n");
+}
+
 void phy_config_8224(void) __banked
 {
 	uint16_t pval;
+	uint16_t tries;
 	print_string("\r\nphy_config_8224 called\r\nRTL8224 ID: ");
 
 	// Print RTL8224 chip id
@@ -244,9 +257,12 @@ void phy_config_8224(void) __banked
 		i++;
 		rtl8224_write_reg_u16(RTL837X_SDS_INDACS_CMD, rtl8224_sds0_setttings[i]);
 		i++;
+		tries = 0xffff;
 		do {
 			rtl8224_read_reg_u16(0x3f8);
-		} while (SFR_DATA_8 & 0x80);
+		} while ((SFR_DATA_8 & 0x80) && --tries);
+		if (SFR_DATA_8 & 0x80)
+			print_string("\r\nRTL8224 SerDes access timed out\r\n");
 	}
 
 	print_string("\r\nphy_config_8224 done\r\n");
diff --git a/rtl837x_phy.h b/rtl837x_phy.h
index 91e675d9..2c2447e5 100644
--- a/rtl837x_phy.h
+++ b/rtl837x_phy.h
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ extern __xdata struct phy_settings phy_settings;
 void rtl8224_phy_enable(void) __banked;
 void phy_config(uint8_t phy) __banked;
 void phy_config_8224(void) __banked;
+void rtl8224_wait_ready(void) __banked;
 void phy_set_speed(void) __banked;
 void phy_set_duplex(void) __banked;
 void phy_show(uint8_t port) __banked;
diff --git a/rtlplayground.c b/rtlplayground.c
index 80f599cb..d8bf8279 100644
--- a/rtlplayground.c
+++ b/rtlplayground.c
@@ -1701,6 +1701,8 @@ void main(void)
 
 	REG_SET(RTL837X_PIN_MUX_2, 0x0); // Disable pins for ACL
 	init_smi();
+	if (machine_detected.isRTL8373)
+		rtl8224_wait_ready();
 
 	rtl8373_revision();