Method for CXL fallback in a CXL system

An information handling system includes a processor and a Compute express link (CXL) device. The CXL device is coupled to the processor by a Peripheral Component Interface-Express (PCIe)/CXL link. The processor initiates a link training on the PCIe/CXL link, determines that the PCIe/CXL link failed to train to a first data rate, trains the PCIe/CXL link to a second data rate in response to determining that the PCIe/CXL link failed to train to the first data rate, and operates the CXL device in a CXL mode in response to training the PCIe/CXL link to the second data rate.