diff --git a/sys/net/if_media.c b/sys/net/if_media.c
--- a/sys/net/if_media.c
+++ b/sys/net/if_media.c
@@ -290,6 +290,16 @@
 		}
 		ifmr->ifm_mask = ifm->ifm_mask;
 		ifmr->ifm_status = 0;
+		/*
+		 * Don't panic if ifm_status isn't yet setup due to
+		 * driver/miibus probe ordering.  This can happen if
+		 * a kldload'ed driver doesn't set the module order
+		 * to setup miibus early enough.
+		 *
+		 * See kern/286530 for more information.
+		 */
+		if (ifm->ifm_status == NULL)
+			return (EINVAL);
 		(*ifm->ifm_status)(ifp, ifmr);
 
 		/*