diff --git a/drivers/net/benet/be_main.c b/drivers/net/benet/be_main.c
index 1248626..8767355 100644
--- a/drivers/net/benet/be_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/benet/be_main.c
@@ -2556,7 +2556,6 @@
 	netif_napi_add(netdev, &adapter->tx_eq.napi, be_poll_tx_mcc,
 		BE_NAPI_WEIGHT);
 
-	netif_carrier_off(netdev);
 	netif_stop_queue(netdev);
 }
 
@@ -2865,6 +2864,7 @@
 	status = register_netdev(netdev);
 	if (status != 0)
 		goto unsetup;
+	netif_carrier_off(netdev);
 
 	dev_info(&pdev->dev, "%s port %d\n", nic_name(pdev), adapter->port_num);
 	return 0;