diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/genet/bcmgenet.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/genet/bcmgenet.c
index 6739c9f62315..43eee38cf8aa 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/genet/bcmgenet.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/genet/bcmgenet.c
@@ -2882,7 +2882,9 @@ static void bcmgenet_netif_start(struct net_device *dev)
 	struct bcmgenet_priv *priv = netdev_priv(dev);
 
 	/* Start the network engine */
+	netif_addr_lock_bh(dev);
 	bcmgenet_set_rx_mode(dev);
+	netif_addr_unlock_bh(dev);
 	bcmgenet_enable_rx_napi(priv);
 
 	umac_enable_set(priv, CMD_TX_EN | CMD_RX_EN, true);