diff --git a/drivers/net/netxen/netxen_nic_main.c b/drivers/net/netxen/netxen_nic_main.c
index 19e2fa940ac0..7d93bc3cb0db 100644
--- a/drivers/net/netxen/netxen_nic_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/netxen/netxen_nic_main.c
@@ -895,8 +895,6 @@ static int netxen_nic_open(struct net_device *netdev)
 
 	/* Done here again so that even if phantom sw overwrote it,
 	 * we set it */
-	if (adapter->macaddr_set)
-		adapter->macaddr_set(adapter, netdev->dev_addr);
 	if (adapter->init_port
 	    && adapter->init_port(adapter, adapter->portnum) != 0) {
 	    del_timer_sync(&adapter->watchdog_timer);
@@ -904,6 +902,8 @@ static int netxen_nic_open(struct net_device *netdev)
 				netxen_nic_driver_name, adapter->portnum);
 		return -EIO;
 	}
+	if (adapter->macaddr_set)
+		adapter->macaddr_set(adapter, netdev->dev_addr);
 
 	netxen_nic_set_link_parameters(adapter);