diff --git a/drivers/net/r8169.c b/drivers/net/r8169.c
index 108aaff..59fbc64 100644
--- a/drivers/net/r8169.c
+++ b/drivers/net/r8169.c
@@ -1952,7 +1952,8 @@
 		dev->do_ioctl = rtl8169_ioctl;
 	}
 
-	/* Read MAC address from EEPROM */
+	spin_lock_init(&tp->lock);
+
 	rtl_init_mac_address(tp, ioaddr);
 
 	/* Get MAC address */
@@ -1995,8 +1996,6 @@
 	tp->timer.data = (unsigned long) dev;
 	tp->timer.function = rtl8169_phy_timer;
 
-	spin_lock_init(&tp->lock);
-
 	rc = register_netdev(dev);
 	if (rc < 0)
 		goto err_out_msi_5;