diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en_rep.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en_rep.c
index c300729fb498..a7a74748c948 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en_rep.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en_rep.c
@@ -699,8 +699,8 @@ static void mlx5e_build_rep_netdev(struct net_device *netdev)
 	struct mlx5_eswitch_rep *rep = rpriv->rep;
 	struct mlx5_core_dev *mdev = priv->mdev;
 
+	SET_NETDEV_DEV(netdev, mdev->device);
 	if (rep->vport == MLX5_VPORT_UPLINK) {
-		SET_NETDEV_DEV(netdev, mdev->device);
 		netdev->netdev_ops = &mlx5e_netdev_ops_uplink_rep;
 		/* we want a persistent mac for the uplink rep */
 		mlx5_query_mac_address(mdev, netdev->dev_addr);