diff --git a/drivers/net/virtio_net.c b/drivers/net/virtio_net.c
index 119a32f34b53..165149bcf0b1 100644
--- a/drivers/net/virtio_net.c
+++ b/drivers/net/virtio_net.c
@@ -3220,6 +3220,8 @@ static int virtnet_probe(struct virtio_device *vdev)
 		}
 	}
 
+	_virtnet_set_queues(vi, vi->curr_queue_pairs);
+
 	/* serialize netdev register + virtio_device_ready() with ndo_open() */
 	rtnl_lock();
 
@@ -3240,8 +3242,6 @@ static int virtnet_probe(struct virtio_device *vdev)
 		goto free_unregister_netdev;
 	}
 
-	virtnet_set_queues(vi, vi->curr_queue_pairs);
-
 	/* Assume link up if device can't report link status,
 	   otherwise get link status from config. */
 	netif_carrier_off(dev);