diff --git a/drivers/net/irda/w83977af_ir.c b/drivers/net/irda/w83977af_ir.c
index dc0a2e4d830f..d0883835b0c6 100644
--- a/drivers/net/irda/w83977af_ir.c
+++ b/drivers/net/irda/w83977af_ir.c
@@ -140,6 +140,13 @@ static void __exit w83977af_cleanup(void)
 	}
 }
 
+static const struct net_device_ops w83977_netdev_ops = {
+	.ndo_open       = w83977af_net_open,
+	.ndo_stop       = w83977af_net_close,
+	.ndo_start_xmit = w83977af_hard_xmit,
+	.ndo_do_ioctl   = w83977af_net_ioctl,
+};
+
 /*
  * Function w83977af_open (iobase, irq)
  *
@@ -231,11 +238,7 @@ static int w83977af_open(int i, unsigned int iobase, unsigned int irq,
 	self->rx_buff.data = self->rx_buff.head;
 	self->netdev = dev;
 
-	/* Override the network functions we need to use */
-	dev->hard_start_xmit = w83977af_hard_xmit;
-	dev->open            = w83977af_net_open;
-	dev->stop            = w83977af_net_close;
-	dev->do_ioctl        = w83977af_net_ioctl;
+	dev->netdev_ops	= &w83977_netdev_ops;
 
 	err = register_netdev(dev);
 	if (err) {