diff --git a/commands/net.c b/commands/net.c
index 9ed0f59..2ed7b22 100644
--- a/commands/net.c
+++ b/commands/net.c
@@ -275,3 +275,41 @@
 U_BOOT_CMD_END
 
 #endif	/* CONFIG_NET_CDP */
+
+static int do_ethact (cmd_tbl_t *cmdtp, int argc, char *argv[])
+{
+	struct device_d *dev;
+	struct eth_device *edev;
+
+	if (argc != 2) {
+		u_boot_cmd_usage(cmdtp);
+		return 1;
+	}
+
+	dev = get_device_by_path(argv[1]);
+	if (!dev) {
+		perror("open");
+		return 1;
+	}
+
+	if (dev->type != DEVICE_TYPE_ETHER) {
+		printf("nat a net device: %s\n", argv[1]);
+		return 1;
+	}
+
+	edev = dev->type_data;
+	eth_set_current(edev);
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static const __maybe_unused char cmd_ethact_help[] =
+"Usage: ethact /dev/ethx\n";
+
+U_BOOT_CMD_START(ethact)
+	.maxargs	= 3,
+	.cmd		= do_ethact,
+	.usage		= "set current ethernet device",
+	U_BOOT_CMD_HELP(cmd_ethact_help)
+U_BOOT_CMD_END
+
diff --git a/net/eth.c b/net/eth.c
index 438fea0..c7d1021 100644
--- a/net/eth.c
+++ b/net/eth.c
@@ -118,6 +118,8 @@
 		return -1;
 	}
 
+	dev->type_data = edev;
+	dev->type = DEVICE_TYPE_ETHER;
 	edev->param_ip.name = "ipaddr";
 	edev->param_ip.set = &eth_set_ipaddr;
 	edev->param_ethaddr.name = "ethaddr";
@@ -142,7 +144,8 @@
 		dev_set_param(dev, "ethaddr", ethaddr_str);
 	}
 
-	eth_current = edev;
+	if (!eth_current)
+		eth_current = edev;
 
 	return 0;
 }