To improve Wake-on-LAN (WOL) functionality of a device, a Media Access Control (MAC) address filtering function may be implemented in the device's Ethernet physical layer (ePHY) block. When the ePHY detects a WOL frame, the MAC filtering function in the ePHY may perform address comparison between the MAC address associated with the device, and the MAC address contained in the WOL frame. Performing the MAC address comparison within the ePHY allows the main system components, such as the main SOC and other components to remain in standby mode (or sleep mode) until a MAC address match has been determined. Therefore, the main system components do not need to be rebooted every time the device receives a WOL frame, only when there is a match between the MAC address of the system and the MAC address contained in the detected WOL packet.