diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/ethoc.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/ethoc.c
index c044667a0a25..e31199f3048c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/ethoc.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/ethoc.c
@@ -710,6 +710,8 @@ static int ethoc_open(struct net_device *dev)
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
 
+	napi_enable(&priv->napi);
+
 	ethoc_init_ring(priv, dev->mem_start);
 	ethoc_reset(priv);
 
@@ -722,7 +724,6 @@ static int ethoc_open(struct net_device *dev)
 	}
 
 	phy_start(dev->phydev);
-	napi_enable(&priv->napi);
 
 	if (netif_msg_ifup(priv)) {
 		dev_info(&dev->dev, "I/O: %08lx Memory: %08lx-%08lx\n",