Methods and systems are provided for accurately identifying devices coupled to ports of power sourcing equipment (PSE) of a Power over Ethernet (PoE) system as either powered devices (PDs) or non-powered devices (non-PDs). A device coupled to a PSE port can be identified as a non-PD in response to determining a data link is established on the port before enabling the detection of powered devices on the port and before supplying power on the port. Another embodiment includes determining that a device has been coupled to the port, determining that a data link to the device has been established on the port, removing power from the port, and then determining whether the data link established on the port still exists.