diff --git a/drivers/net/stmmac/stmmac_main.c b/drivers/net/stmmac/stmmac_main.c
index 06bc603..2114837 100644
--- a/drivers/net/stmmac/stmmac_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/stmmac/stmmac_main.c
@@ -1509,6 +1509,8 @@
 		pr_warning("\tno valid MAC address;"
 			"please, use ifconfig or nwhwconfig!\n");
 
+	spin_lock_init(&priv->lock);
+
 	ret = register_netdev(dev);
 	if (ret) {
 		pr_err("%s: ERROR %i registering the device\n",
@@ -1520,8 +1522,6 @@
 	    dev->name, (dev->features & NETIF_F_SG) ? "on" : "off",
 	    (dev->features & NETIF_F_HW_CSUM) ? "on" : "off");
 
-	spin_lock_init(&priv->lock);
-
 	return ret;
 }