diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_init_ops.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_init_ops.h
index 1835d2e451c0..fc7fce642666 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_init_ops.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_init_ops.h
@@ -635,11 +635,13 @@ static int bnx2x_ilt_client_mem_op(struct bnx2x *bp, int cli_num,
 {
 	int i, rc;
 	struct bnx2x_ilt *ilt = BP_ILT(bp);
-	struct ilt_client_info *ilt_cli = &ilt->clients[cli_num];
+	struct ilt_client_info *ilt_cli;
 
 	if (!ilt || !ilt->lines)
 		return -1;
 
+	ilt_cli = &ilt->clients[cli_num];
+
 	if (ilt_cli->flags & (ILT_CLIENT_SKIP_INIT | ILT_CLIENT_SKIP_MEM))
 		return 0;