diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/fec_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/fec_main.c
index e3ffd7aee02fa0..f49f43fef2aa3c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/fec_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/fec_main.c
@@ -2079,8 +2079,6 @@ fec_enet_open(struct net_device *ndev)
 
 	fec_enet_clk_enable(ndev, true);
 
-	napi_enable(&fep->napi);
-
 	/* I should reset the ring buffers here, but I don't yet know
 	 * a simple way to do that.
 	 */
@@ -2096,6 +2094,7 @@ fec_enet_open(struct net_device *ndev)
 		return ret;
 	}
 
+	napi_enable(&fep->napi);
 	phy_start(fep->phy_dev);
 	netif_tx_start_all_queues(ndev);
 	fep->opened = 1;