phy->attached_sata_ps   = dr->attached_sata_ps;
        phy->attached_iproto = dr->iproto << 1;
        phy->attached_tproto = dr->tproto << 1;
-       memcpy(phy->attached_sas_addr, dr->attached_sas_addr, SAS_ADDR_SIZE);
+       /* help some expanders that fail to zero sas_address in the 'no
+        * device' case
+        */
+       if (phy->attached_dev_type == NO_DEVICE ||
+           phy->linkrate < SAS_LINK_RATE_1_5_GBPS)
+               memset(phy->attached_sas_addr, 0, SAS_ADDR_SIZE);
+       else
+               memcpy(phy->attached_sas_addr, dr->attached_sas_addr, SAS_ADDR_SIZE);
        phy->attached_phy_id = dr->attached_phy_id;
        phy->phy_change_count = dr->change_count;
        phy->routing_attr = dr->routing_attr;