diff --git a/soes/hal/rt-kernel-xmc4/esc_hw.c b/soes/hal/rt-kernel-xmc4/esc_hw.c
index d4edb8a..0d76d4a 100644
--- a/soes/hal/rt-kernel-xmc4/esc_hw.c
+++ b/soes/hal/rt-kernel-xmc4/esc_hw.c
@@ -83,6 +83,25 @@ void ESC_enable(void)
    scu_put_peripheral_in_reset (SCU_PERIPHERAL_ECAT0);
    scu_ungate_clock_to_peripheral (SCU_PERIPHERAL_ECAT0);
    scu_release_peripheral_from_reset (SCU_PERIPHERAL_ECAT0);
+
+   /* Used to perform PHY reset after ECAT module have been released as
+    * described in 16.3.2.3 final section;
+    * "In some case PHYs may be released from reset after releasing the ECAT
+    * module, the pin for nPHY_RESET can be used as an I/O and shell be
+    * switched later to the alternate output function".
+    * Works well with relax boards.
+    */
+   static const gpio_cfg_t gpio_cfg[] =
+   {
+      { ECAT0_PHY_RESET,
+        ECAT0_PHY_RESET_GPIO_AF,
+        GPIO_STRONG_SOFT,
+        GPIO_PAD_ENABLED,
+        GPIO_POWS_DISABLED,
+        GPIO_SW },
+   };
+   /* Re-configure the pin to correct alternate output function */
+   gpio_configure (gpio_cfg, NELEMENTS (gpio_cfg));
 }
 
 /* EtherCAT module clock gating and assert reset API (Disables ECAT)*/
@@ -220,9 +239,8 @@ static void sync0_isr (void * arg)
  */
 static void ecat_isr (void * arg)
 {
-   ESC_read (ESCREG_LOCALTIME, (void *) &ESCvar.Time, sizeof (ESCvar.Time));
-   ESCvar.Time = etohl (ESCvar.Time);
    CC_ATOMIC_SET(ESCvar.ALevent, etohl(ecat0->AL_EVENT_REQ));
+   CC_ATOMIC_SET(ESCvar.Time, etohl(ecat0->READMode_DC_SYS_TIME[0]));
 
    /* Handle SM2 interrupt */
    if(ESCvar.ALevent & ESCREG_ALEVENT_SM2)
@@ -281,6 +299,8 @@ static void isr_run(void * arg)
       /* Do while to handle write of eeprom, the write to flash is delayed */
       do
       {
+         /* Update time, used by emulated eeprom handler to measure idle time */
+         CC_ATOMIC_SET(ESCvar.Time, etohl(ecat0->READMode_DC_SYS_TIME[0]));
          ecat_slv_worker(ESCREG_ALEVENT_CONTROL | ESCREG_ALEVENT_SMCHANGE
                | ESCREG_ALEVENT_SM0 | ESCREG_ALEVENT_SM1 | ESCREG_ALEVENT_EEP);