diff --git a/net/eth.c b/net/eth.c
index a2e6f34535..b6c2af3de6 100644
--- a/net/eth.c
+++ b/net/eth.c
@@ -360,6 +360,18 @@ int eth_initialize(void)
 		printf("No ethernet found.\n");
 		bootstage_error(BOOTSTAGE_ID_NET_ETH_START);
 	} else {
+		char *ethprime = getenv("ethprime");
+		struct udevice *prime_dev = NULL;
+
+		if (ethprime)
+			prime_dev = eth_get_dev_by_name(ethprime);
+		if (prime_dev) {
+			eth_set_dev(prime_dev);
+			eth_current_changed();
+		} else {
+			eth_set_dev(NULL);
+		}
+
 		bootstage_mark(BOOTSTAGE_ID_NET_ETH_INIT);
 		do {
 			if (num_devices)
@@ -367,6 +379,9 @@ int eth_initialize(void)
 
 			printf("eth%d: %s", dev->seq, dev->name);
 
+			if (ethprime && dev == prime_dev)
+				printf(" [PRIME]");
+
 			eth_write_hwaddr(dev);
 
 			uclass_next_device(&dev);
@@ -915,8 +930,20 @@ void eth_set_current(void)
 		act = getenv("ethact");
 		env_changed_id = env_id;
 	}
-	if (act != NULL)
+
+	if (act == NULL) {
+		char *ethprime = getenv("ethprime");
+		void *dev = NULL;
+
+		if (ethprime)
+			dev = eth_get_dev_by_name(ethprime);
+		if (dev)
+			eth_set_dev(dev);
+		else
+			eth_set_dev(NULL);
+	} else {
 		eth_set_dev(eth_get_dev_by_name(act));
+	}
 
 	eth_current_changed();
 }
diff --git a/test/dm/eth.c b/test/dm/eth.c
index 5688b71de0..96e3c46ea6 100644
--- a/test/dm/eth.c
+++ b/test/dm/eth.c
@@ -60,3 +60,23 @@ static int dm_test_eth_alias(struct dm_test_state *dms)
 	return 0;
 }
 DM_TEST(dm_test_eth_alias, DM_TESTF_SCAN_FDT);
+
+static int dm_test_eth_prime(struct dm_test_state *dms)
+{
+	NetPingIP = string_to_ip("1.1.2.2");
+
+	/* Expected to be "eth@10003000" because of ethprime variable */
+	setenv("ethact", NULL);
+	setenv("ethprime", "eth5");
+	ut_assertok(NetLoop(PING));
+	ut_asserteq_str("eth@10003000", getenv("ethact"));
+
+	/* Expected to be "eth@10002000" because it is first */
+	setenv("ethact", NULL);
+	setenv("ethprime", NULL);
+	ut_assertok(NetLoop(PING));
+	ut_asserteq_str("eth@10002000", getenv("ethact"));
+
+	return 0;
+}
+DM_TEST(dm_test_eth_prime, DM_TESTF_SCAN_FDT);