diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/microchip/encx24j600.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/microchip/encx24j600.c
index b14f0305aa31..ad661d1979c7 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/microchip/encx24j600.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/microchip/encx24j600.c
@@ -1058,7 +1058,7 @@ static int encx24j600_spi_probe(struct spi_device *spi)
 	if (unlikely(ret)) {
 		netif_err(priv, probe, ndev, "Error %d initializing card encx24j600 card\n",
 			  ret);
-		goto out_free;
+		goto out_stop;
 	}
 
 	eidled = encx24j600_read_reg(priv, EIDLED);
@@ -1076,6 +1076,8 @@ static int encx24j600_spi_probe(struct spi_device *spi)
 
 out_unregister:
 	unregister_netdev(priv->ndev);
+out_stop:
+	kthread_stop(priv->kworker_task);
 out_free:
 	free_netdev(ndev);
 
@@ -1088,6 +1090,7 @@ static int encx24j600_spi_remove(struct spi_device *spi)
 	struct encx24j600_priv *priv = dev_get_drvdata(&spi->dev);
 
 	unregister_netdev(priv->ndev);
+	kthread_stop(priv->kworker_task);
 
 	free_netdev(priv->ndev);