diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/i825xx/sni_82596.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/i825xx/sni_82596.c
index daec9ce04531..54bb4d9a0d1e 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/i825xx/sni_82596.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/i825xx/sni_82596.c
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ static int sni_82596_probe(struct platform_device *dev)
 	void __iomem *mpu_addr;
 	void __iomem *ca_addr;
 	u8 __iomem *eth_addr;
+	u8 mac[ETH_ALEN];
 
 	res = platform_get_resource(dev, IORESOURCE_MEM, 0);
 	ca = platform_get_resource(dev, IORESOURCE_MEM, 1);
@@ -109,12 +110,13 @@ static int sni_82596_probe(struct platform_device *dev)
 		goto probe_failed;
 
 	/* someone seems to like messed up stuff */
-	netdevice->dev_addr[0] = readb(eth_addr + 0x0b);
-	netdevice->dev_addr[1] = readb(eth_addr + 0x0a);
-	netdevice->dev_addr[2] = readb(eth_addr + 0x09);
-	netdevice->dev_addr[3] = readb(eth_addr + 0x08);
-	netdevice->dev_addr[4] = readb(eth_addr + 0x07);
-	netdevice->dev_addr[5] = readb(eth_addr + 0x06);
+	mac[0] = readb(eth_addr + 0x0b);
+	mac[1] = readb(eth_addr + 0x0a);
+	mac[2] = readb(eth_addr + 0x09);
+	mac[3] = readb(eth_addr + 0x08);
+	mac[4] = readb(eth_addr + 0x07);
+	mac[5] = readb(eth_addr + 0x06);
+	eth_hw_addr_set(netdevice, mac);
 	iounmap(eth_addr);
 
 	if (netdevice->irq < 0) {