diff --git a/doc/guides/nics/txgbe.rst b/doc/guides/nics/txgbe.rst
index 47501796f2..5b29f1de0c 100644
--- a/doc/guides/nics/txgbe.rst
+++ b/doc/guides/nics/txgbe.rst
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ Please note that following ``devargs`` are only set for backplane NICs.
 
   Toggle behavior to enable/disable polling mode to receive AN interrupt.
 
-- ``present`` (default **1**)
+- ``present`` (default **0**)
 
   Toggle behavior to use present mode or init mode.
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/txgbe/base/txgbe_phy.c b/drivers/net/txgbe/base/txgbe_phy.c
index 2db87ae0c5..3f5229ecc2 100644
--- a/drivers/net/txgbe/base/txgbe_phy.c
+++ b/drivers/net/txgbe/base/txgbe_phy.c
@@ -1456,7 +1456,7 @@ txgbe_set_link_to_kr(struct txgbe_hw *hw, bool autoneg)
 			wr32_epcs(hw, SR_AN_CTRL, 0);
 			wr32_epcs(hw, VR_AN_KR_MODE_CL, 0);
 		}
-		if (hw->devarg.present  == 1) {
+		if (hw->devarg.present == 1) {
 			value = rd32_epcs(hw, TXGBE_PHY_TX_EQ_CTL1);
 			value |= TXGBE_PHY_TX_EQ_CTL1_DEF;
 			wr32_epcs(hw, TXGBE_PHY_TX_EQ_CTL1, value);
diff --git a/drivers/net/txgbe/txgbe_ethdev.c b/drivers/net/txgbe/txgbe_ethdev.c
index 5c31ba5358..04afc61341 100644
--- a/drivers/net/txgbe/txgbe_ethdev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/txgbe/txgbe_ethdev.c
@@ -495,7 +495,7 @@ txgbe_parse_devargs(struct txgbe_hw *hw, struct rte_devargs *devargs)
 	struct rte_kvargs *kvlist;
 	u16 auto_neg = 1;
 	u16 poll = 0;
-	u16 present = 1;
+	u16 present = 0;
 	u16 sgmii = 0;
 	u16 ffe_set = 0;
 	u16 ffe_main = 27;