diff --git a/net/core/dev.c b/net/core/dev.c
index bb42eb161969..bbda81997f4f 100644
--- a/net/core/dev.c
+++ b/net/core/dev.c
@@ -5974,6 +5974,8 @@ struct netdev_queue *dev_ingress_queue_create(struct net_device *dev)
 	return queue;
 }
 
+static const struct ethtool_ops default_ethtool_ops;
+
 /**
  *	alloc_netdev_mqs - allocate network device
  *	@sizeof_priv:	size of private data to allocate space for
@@ -6061,6 +6063,8 @@ struct net_device *alloc_netdev_mqs(int sizeof_priv, const char *name,
 
 	strcpy(dev->name, name);
 	dev->group = INIT_NETDEV_GROUP;
+	if (!dev->ethtool_ops)
+		dev->ethtool_ops = &default_ethtool_ops;
 	return dev;
 
 free_all:
diff --git a/net/core/ethtool.c b/net/core/ethtool.c
index cbf033dcaf1f..4d64cc2e3fa9 100644
--- a/net/core/ethtool.c
+++ b/net/core/ethtool.c
@@ -1426,18 +1426,6 @@ int dev_ethtool(struct net *net, struct ifreq *ifr)
 	if (copy_from_user(&ethcmd, useraddr, sizeof(ethcmd)))
 		return -EFAULT;
 
-	if (!dev->ethtool_ops) {
-		/* A few commands do not require any driver support,
-		 * are unprivileged, and do not change anything, so we
-		 * can take a shortcut to them. */
-		if (ethcmd == ETHTOOL_GDRVINFO)
-			return ethtool_get_drvinfo(dev, useraddr);
-		else if (ethcmd == ETHTOOL_GET_TS_INFO)
-			return ethtool_get_ts_info(dev, useraddr);
-		else
-			return -EOPNOTSUPP;
-	}
-
 	/* Allow some commands to be done by anyone */
 	switch (ethcmd) {
 	case ETHTOOL_GSET: