diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/ibm/ibmvnic.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/ibm/ibmvnic.c
index 1c6bc69197a53..de500d3030fa2 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/ibm/ibmvnic.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/ibm/ibmvnic.c
@@ -5811,12 +5811,6 @@ static int ibmvnic_probe(struct vio_dev *dev, const struct vio_device_id *id)
 		goto ibmvnic_dev_file_err;
 
 	netif_carrier_off(netdev);
-	rc = register_netdev(netdev);
-	if (rc) {
-		dev_err(&dev->dev, "failed to register netdev rc=%d\n", rc);
-		goto ibmvnic_register_fail;
-	}
-	dev_info(&dev->dev, "ibmvnic registered\n");
 
 	if (init_success) {
 		adapter->state = VNIC_PROBED;
@@ -5829,6 +5823,14 @@ static int ibmvnic_probe(struct vio_dev *dev, const struct vio_device_id *id)
 
 	adapter->wait_for_reset = false;
 	adapter->last_reset_time = jiffies;
+
+	rc = register_netdev(netdev);
+	if (rc) {
+		dev_err(&dev->dev, "failed to register netdev rc=%d\n", rc);
+		goto ibmvnic_register_fail;
+	}
+	dev_info(&dev->dev, "ibmvnic registered\n");
+
 	return 0;
 
 ibmvnic_register_fail: