diff --git a/drivers/staging/rtl8712/os_intfs.c b/drivers/staging/rtl8712/os_intfs.c
index 0c3ae8495afb..c0982c13ece7 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/rtl8712/os_intfs.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/rtl8712/os_intfs.c
@@ -323,6 +323,7 @@ int r8712_init_drv_sw(struct _adapter *padapter)
 	mp871xinit(padapter);
 	init_default_value(padapter);
 	r8712_InitSwLeds(padapter);
+	mutex_init(&padapter->mutex_start);
 	return ret;
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/staging/rtl8712/usb_intf.c b/drivers/staging/rtl8712/usb_intf.c
index f7c1258eaa39..fef9233cef42 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/rtl8712/usb_intf.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/rtl8712/usb_intf.c
@@ -570,7 +570,6 @@ static int r871xu_drv_init(struct usb_interface *pusb_intf,
 	if (rtl871x_load_fw(padapter))
 		goto error;
 	spin_lock_init(&padapter->lock_rx_ff0_filter);
-	mutex_init(&padapter->mutex_start);
 	return 0;
 error:
 	usb_put_dev(udev);