diff --git a/src/system.cpp b/src/system.cpp
index 472a30b4a..f0f09f81a 100644
--- a/src/system.cpp
+++ b/src/system.cpp
@@ -790,10 +790,12 @@ void System::network_init(bool refresh) {
 
     // reset power and add a delay as ETH doesn't not always start up correctly after a warm boot
     // TODO still experimental
-    pinMode(eth_power_, OUTPUT);
-    digitalWrite(eth_power_, LOW);
-    delay(1000);
-    digitalWrite(eth_power_, HIGH);
+    if (eth_power_ != -1) {
+        pinMode(eth_power_, OUTPUT);
+        digitalWrite(eth_power_, LOW);
+        delay(500);
+        digitalWrite(eth_power_, HIGH);
+    }
 
 #if ESP_IDF_VERSION_MAJOR < 5
     eth_present_ = ETH.begin(phy_addr, power, mdc, mdio, type, clock_mode);