diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/adaptec/starfire.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/adaptec/starfire.c
index 16b6b83f670bc..c6982f7caf9b4 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/adaptec/starfire.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/adaptec/starfire.c
@@ -641,6 +641,7 @@ static int starfire_init_one(struct pci_dev *pdev,
 	struct netdev_private *np;
 	int i, irq, chip_idx = ent->driver_data;
 	struct net_device *dev;
+	u8 addr[ETH_ALEN];
 	long ioaddr;
 	void __iomem *base;
 	int drv_flags, io_size;
@@ -696,7 +697,8 @@ static int starfire_init_one(struct pci_dev *pdev,
 
 	/* Serial EEPROM reads are hidden by the hardware. */
 	for (i = 0; i < 6; i++)
-		dev->dev_addr[i] = readb(base + EEPROMCtrl + 20 - i);
+		addr[i] = readb(base + EEPROMCtrl + 20 - i);
+	eth_hw_addr_set(dev, addr);
 
 #if ! defined(final_version) /* Dump the EEPROM contents during development. */
 	if (debug > 4)
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/aeroflex/greth.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/aeroflex/greth.c
index cc34eaf0491ff..447dc64a17e5d 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/aeroflex/greth.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/aeroflex/greth.c
@@ -1346,6 +1346,7 @@ static int greth_of_probe(struct platform_device *ofdev)
 	int i;
 	int err;
 	int tmp;
+	u8 addr[ETH_ALEN];
 	unsigned long timeout;
 
 	dev = alloc_etherdev(sizeof(struct greth_private));
@@ -1449,8 +1450,6 @@ static int greth_of_probe(struct platform_device *ofdev)
 			break;
 	}
 	if (i == 6) {
-		u8 addr[ETH_ALEN];
-
 		err = of_get_mac_address(ofdev->dev.of_node, addr);
 		if (!err) {
 			for (i = 0; i < 6; i++)
@@ -1464,7 +1463,8 @@ static int greth_of_probe(struct platform_device *ofdev)
 	}
 
 	for (i = 0; i < 6; i++)
-		dev->dev_addr[i] = macaddr[i];
+		addr[i] = macaddr[i];
+	eth_hw_addr_set(dev, addr);
 
 	macaddr[5]++;
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/alteon/acenic.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/alteon/acenic.c
index eeb86bd851f9a..732da15a38274 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/alteon/acenic.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/alteon/acenic.c
@@ -869,6 +869,7 @@ static int ace_init(struct net_device *dev)
 	int board_idx, ecode = 0;
 	short i;
 	unsigned char cache_size;
+	u8 addr[ETH_ALEN];
 
 	ap = netdev_priv(dev);
 	regs = ap->regs;
@@ -988,12 +989,13 @@ static int ace_init(struct net_device *dev)
 	writel(mac1, &regs->MacAddrHi);
 	writel(mac2, &regs->MacAddrLo);
 
-	dev->dev_addr[0] = (mac1 >> 8) & 0xff;
-	dev->dev_addr[1] = mac1 & 0xff;
-	dev->dev_addr[2] = (mac2 >> 24) & 0xff;
-	dev->dev_addr[3] = (mac2 >> 16) & 0xff;
-	dev->dev_addr[4] = (mac2 >> 8) & 0xff;
-	dev->dev_addr[5] = mac2 & 0xff;
+	addr[0] = (mac1 >> 8) & 0xff;
+	addr[1] = mac1 & 0xff;
+	addr[2] = (mac2 >> 24) & 0xff;
+	addr[3] = (mac2 >> 16) & 0xff;
+	addr[4] = (mac2 >> 8) & 0xff;
+	addr[5] = mac2 & 0xff;
+	eth_hw_addr_set(dev, addr);
 
 	printk("MAC: %pM\n", dev->dev_addr);
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/amd/amd8111e.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/amd/amd8111e.c
index 0b493467b0421..9421afb950f79 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/amd/amd8111e.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/amd/amd8111e.c
@@ -1743,6 +1743,7 @@ static int amd8111e_probe_one(struct pci_dev *pdev,
 	unsigned long reg_addr, reg_len;
 	struct amd8111e_priv *lp;
 	struct net_device *dev;
+	u8 addr[ETH_ALEN];
 
 	err = pci_enable_device(pdev);
 	if (err) {
@@ -1809,7 +1810,8 @@ static int amd8111e_probe_one(struct pci_dev *pdev,
 
 	/* Initializing MAC address */
 	for (i = 0; i < ETH_ALEN; i++)
-		dev->dev_addr[i] = readb(lp->mmio + PADR + i);
+		addr[i] = readb(lp->mmio + PADR + i);
+	eth_hw_addr_set(dev, addr);
 
 	/* Setting user defined parametrs */
 	lp->ext_phy_option = speed_duplex[card_idx];
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/amd/pcnet32.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/amd/pcnet32.c
index 820baa2604acc..f5c50ff377ff7 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/amd/pcnet32.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/amd/pcnet32.c
@@ -1595,6 +1595,7 @@ pcnet32_probe1(unsigned long ioaddr, int shared, struct pci_dev *pdev)
 	struct net_device *dev;
 	const struct pcnet32_access *a = NULL;
 	u8 promaddr[ETH_ALEN];
+	u8 addr[ETH_ALEN];
 	int ret = -ENODEV;
 
 	/* reset the chip */
@@ -1760,9 +1761,10 @@ pcnet32_probe1(unsigned long ioaddr, int shared, struct pci_dev *pdev)
 		unsigned int val;
 		val = a->read_csr(ioaddr, i + 12) & 0x0ffff;
 		/* There may be endianness issues here. */
-		dev->dev_addr[2 * i] = val & 0x0ff;
-		dev->dev_addr[2 * i + 1] = (val >> 8) & 0x0ff;
+		addr[2 * i] = val & 0x0ff;
+		addr[2 * i + 1] = (val >> 8) & 0x0ff;
 	}
+	eth_hw_addr_set(dev, addr);
 
 	/* read PROM address and compare with CSR address */
 	for (i = 0; i < ETH_ALEN; i++)
@@ -1780,8 +1782,11 @@ pcnet32_probe1(unsigned long ioaddr, int shared, struct pci_dev *pdev)
 	}
 
 	/* if the ethernet address is not valid, force to 00:00:00:00:00:00 */
-	if (!is_valid_ether_addr(dev->dev_addr))
-		eth_zero_addr(dev->dev_addr);
+	if (!is_valid_ether_addr(dev->dev_addr)) {
+		static const u8 zero_addr[ETH_ALEN] = {};
+
+		eth_hw_addr_set(dev, zero_addr);
+	}
 
 	if (pcnet32_debug & NETIF_MSG_PROBE) {
 		pr_cont(" %pM", dev->dev_addr);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/aquantia/atlantic/aq_nic.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/aquantia/atlantic/aq_nic.c
index 694aa70bcafe5..1acf544afeb44 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/aquantia/atlantic/aq_nic.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/aquantia/atlantic/aq_nic.c
@@ -300,6 +300,7 @@ static bool aq_nic_is_valid_ether_addr(const u8 *addr)
 
 int aq_nic_ndev_register(struct aq_nic_s *self)
 {
+	u8 addr[ETH_ALEN];
 	int err = 0;
 
 	if (!self->ndev) {
@@ -316,12 +317,13 @@ int aq_nic_ndev_register(struct aq_nic_s *self)
 #endif
 
 	mutex_lock(&self->fwreq_mutex);
-	err = self->aq_fw_ops->get_mac_permanent(self->aq_hw,
-			    self->ndev->dev_addr);
+	err = self->aq_fw_ops->get_mac_permanent(self->aq_hw, addr);
 	mutex_unlock(&self->fwreq_mutex);
 	if (err)
 		goto err_exit;
 
+	eth_hw_addr_set(self->ndev, addr);
+
 	if (!is_valid_ether_addr(self->ndev->dev_addr) ||
 	    !aq_nic_is_valid_ether_addr(self->ndev->dev_addr)) {
 		netdev_warn(self->ndev, "MAC is invalid, will use random.");
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_main.c
index 27e712178f95d..aec666e976831 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnx2x/bnx2x_main.c
@@ -11823,9 +11823,10 @@ static void bnx2x_get_mac_hwinfo(struct bnx2x *bp)
 	u32 val, val2;
 	int func = BP_ABS_FUNC(bp);
 	int port = BP_PORT(bp);
+	u8 addr[ETH_ALEN] = {};
 
 	/* Zero primary MAC configuration */
-	eth_zero_addr(bp->dev->dev_addr);
+	eth_hw_addr_set(bp->dev, addr);
 
 	if (BP_NOMCP(bp)) {
 		BNX2X_ERROR("warning: random MAC workaround active\n");
@@ -11834,8 +11835,10 @@ static void bnx2x_get_mac_hwinfo(struct bnx2x *bp)
 		val2 = MF_CFG_RD(bp, func_mf_config[func].mac_upper);
 		val = MF_CFG_RD(bp, func_mf_config[func].mac_lower);
 		if ((val2 != FUNC_MF_CFG_UPPERMAC_DEFAULT) &&
-		    (val != FUNC_MF_CFG_LOWERMAC_DEFAULT))
-			bnx2x_set_mac_buf(bp->dev->dev_addr, val, val2);
+		    (val != FUNC_MF_CFG_LOWERMAC_DEFAULT)) {
+			bnx2x_set_mac_buf(addr, val, val2);
+			eth_hw_addr_set(bp->dev, addr);
+		}
 
 		if (CNIC_SUPPORT(bp))
 			bnx2x_get_cnic_mac_hwinfo(bp);
@@ -11843,7 +11846,8 @@ static void bnx2x_get_mac_hwinfo(struct bnx2x *bp)
 		/* in SF read MACs from port configuration */
 		val2 = SHMEM_RD(bp, dev_info.port_hw_config[port].mac_upper);
 		val = SHMEM_RD(bp, dev_info.port_hw_config[port].mac_lower);
-		bnx2x_set_mac_buf(bp->dev->dev_addr, val, val2);
+		bnx2x_set_mac_buf(addr, val, val2);
+		eth_hw_addr_set(bp->dev, addr);
 
 		if (CNIC_SUPPORT(bp))
 			bnx2x_get_cnic_mac_hwinfo(bp);
@@ -12291,7 +12295,9 @@ static int bnx2x_init_bp(struct bnx2x *bp)
 		if (rc)
 			return rc;
 	} else {
-		eth_zero_addr(bp->dev->dev_addr);
+		static const u8 zero_addr[ETH_ALEN] = {};
+
+		eth_hw_addr_set(bp->dev, zero_addr);
 	}
 
 	bnx2x_set_modes_bitmap(bp);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/genet/bcmgenet.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/genet/bcmgenet.c
index ed53859b6f7d0..5da9c00b43b15 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/genet/bcmgenet.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/genet/bcmgenet.c
@@ -4085,8 +4085,12 @@ static int bcmgenet_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 		eth_hw_addr_set(dev, pd->mac_address);
 	else
 		if (device_get_ethdev_address(&pdev->dev, dev))
-			if (has_acpi_companion(&pdev->dev))
-				bcmgenet_get_hw_addr(priv, dev->dev_addr);
+			if (has_acpi_companion(&pdev->dev)) {
+				u8 addr[ETH_ALEN];
+
+				bcmgenet_get_hw_addr(priv, addr);
+				eth_hw_addr_set(dev, addr);
+			}
 
 	if (!is_valid_ether_addr(dev->dev_addr)) {
 		dev_warn(&pdev->dev, "using random Ethernet MAC\n");
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/cisco/enic/enic_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/cisco/enic/enic_main.c
index 66348cc3aaafa..aacf141986d55 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/cisco/enic/enic_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/cisco/enic/enic_main.c
@@ -1098,6 +1098,7 @@ static int enic_set_vf_mac(struct net_device *netdev, int vf, u8 *mac)
 static int enic_set_vf_port(struct net_device *netdev, int vf,
 	struct nlattr *port[])
 {
+	static const u8 zero_addr[ETH_ALEN] = {};
 	struct enic *enic = netdev_priv(netdev);
 	struct enic_port_profile prev_pp;
 	struct enic_port_profile *pp;
@@ -1162,7 +1163,7 @@ static int enic_set_vf_port(struct net_device *netdev, int vf,
 		} else {
 			memset(pp, 0, sizeof(*pp));
 			if (vf == PORT_SELF_VF)
-				eth_zero_addr(netdev->dev_addr);
+				eth_hw_addr_set(netdev, zero_addr);
 		}
 	} else {
 		/* Set flag to indicate that the port assoc/disassoc
@@ -1174,7 +1175,7 @@ static int enic_set_vf_port(struct net_device *netdev, int vf,
 		if (pp->request == PORT_REQUEST_DISASSOCIATE) {
 			eth_zero_addr(pp->mac_addr);
 			if (vf == PORT_SELF_VF)
-				eth_zero_addr(netdev->dev_addr);
+				eth_hw_addr_set(netdev, zero_addr);
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/ec_bhf.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/ec_bhf.c
index b2d4fb3feb744..46e3a05e95824 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/ec_bhf.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/ec_bhf.c
@@ -479,6 +479,7 @@ static int ec_bhf_probe(struct pci_dev *dev, const struct pci_device_id *id)
 	struct net_device *net_dev;
 	struct ec_bhf_priv *priv;
 	void __iomem *dma_io;
+	u8 addr[ETH_ALEN];
 	void __iomem *io;
 	int err = 0;
 
@@ -539,7 +540,8 @@ static int ec_bhf_probe(struct pci_dev *dev, const struct pci_device_id *id)
 	if (err < 0)
 		goto err_free_net_dev;
 
-	memcpy_fromio(net_dev->dev_addr, priv->mii_io + MII_MAC_ADDR, 6);
+	memcpy_fromio(addr, priv->mii_io + MII_MAC_ADDR, ETH_ALEN);
+	eth_hw_addr_set(net_dev, addr);
 
 	err = register_netdev(net_dev);
 	if (err < 0)
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/enetc/enetc_hw.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/enetc/enetc_hw.h
index 0f5f081a5bafe..1514e6a4a3ff7 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/enetc/enetc_hw.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/enetc/enetc_hw.h
@@ -635,10 +635,14 @@ struct enetc_cmd_rfse {
 #define ENETC_RFSE_EN	BIT(15)
 #define ENETC_RFSE_MODE_BD	2
 
-static inline void enetc_get_primary_mac_addr(struct enetc_hw *hw, u8 *addr)
+static inline void enetc_load_primary_mac_addr(struct enetc_hw *hw,
+					       struct net_device *ndev)
 {
+	u8 addr[ETH_ALEN] __aligned(4);
+
 	*(u32 *)addr = __raw_readl(hw->reg + ENETC_SIPMAR0);
 	*(u16 *)(addr + 4) = __raw_readw(hw->reg + ENETC_SIPMAR1);
+	eth_hw_addr_set(ndev, addr);
 }
 
 #define ENETC_SI_INT_IDX	0
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/enetc/enetc_pf.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/enetc/enetc_pf.c
index 8281dd664f4e6..ead2b93bf6142 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/enetc/enetc_pf.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/enetc/enetc_pf.c
@@ -783,7 +783,7 @@ static void enetc_pf_netdev_setup(struct enetc_si *si, struct net_device *ndev,
 	}
 
 	/* pick up primary MAC address from SI */
-	enetc_get_primary_mac_addr(&si->hw, ndev->dev_addr);
+	enetc_load_primary_mac_addr(&si->hw, ndev);
 }
 
 static int enetc_mdio_probe(struct enetc_pf *pf, struct device_node *np)
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/enetc/enetc_vf.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/enetc/enetc_vf.c
index df312c9f82436..17924305afa2f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/enetc/enetc_vf.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/enetc/enetc_vf.c
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ static void enetc_vf_netdev_setup(struct enetc_si *si, struct net_device *ndev,
 		ndev->hw_features |= NETIF_F_RXHASH;
 
 	/* pick up primary MAC address from SI */
-	enetc_get_primary_mac_addr(&si->hw, ndev->dev_addr);
+	enetc_load_primary_mac_addr(&si->hw, ndev);
 }
 
 static int enetc_vf_probe(struct pci_dev *pdev,
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/ibm/ibmveth.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/ibm/ibmveth.c
index 836617fb3f402..45ba40cf4d075 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/ibm/ibmveth.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/ibm/ibmveth.c
@@ -483,17 +483,6 @@ static int ibmveth_register_logical_lan(struct ibmveth_adapter *adapter,
 	return rc;
 }
 
-static u64 ibmveth_encode_mac_addr(u8 *mac)
-{
-	int i;
-	u64 encoded = 0;
-
-	for (i = 0; i < ETH_ALEN; i++)
-		encoded = (encoded << 8) | mac[i];
-
-	return encoded;
-}
-
 static int ibmveth_open(struct net_device *netdev)
 {
 	struct ibmveth_adapter *adapter = netdev_priv(netdev);
@@ -553,7 +542,7 @@ static int ibmveth_open(struct net_device *netdev)
 	adapter->rx_queue.num_slots = rxq_entries;
 	adapter->rx_queue.toggle = 1;
 
-	mac_address = ibmveth_encode_mac_addr(netdev->dev_addr);
+	mac_address = ether_addr_to_u64(netdev->dev_addr);
 
 	rxq_desc.fields.flags_len = IBMVETH_BUF_VALID |
 					adapter->rx_queue.queue_len;
@@ -1476,7 +1465,7 @@ static void ibmveth_set_multicast_list(struct net_device *netdev)
 		netdev_for_each_mc_addr(ha, netdev) {
 			/* add the multicast address to the filter table */
 			u64 mcast_addr;
-			mcast_addr = ibmveth_encode_mac_addr(ha->addr);
+			mcast_addr = ether_addr_to_u64(ha->addr);
 			lpar_rc = h_multicast_ctrl(adapter->vdev->unit_address,
 						   IbmVethMcastAddFilter,
 						   mcast_addr);
@@ -1606,7 +1595,7 @@ static int ibmveth_set_mac_addr(struct net_device *dev, void *p)
 	if (!is_valid_ether_addr(addr->sa_data))
 		return -EADDRNOTAVAIL;
 
-	mac_address = ibmveth_encode_mac_addr(addr->sa_data);
+	mac_address = ether_addr_to_u64(addr->sa_data);
 	rc = h_change_logical_lan_mac(adapter->vdev->unit_address, mac_address);
 	if (rc) {
 		netdev_err(adapter->netdev, "h_change_logical_lan_mac failed with rc=%d\n", rc);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgb/ixgb_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgb/ixgb_main.c
index 5e1e2f0db82ae..99d481904ce64 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgb/ixgb_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgb/ixgb_main.c
@@ -362,6 +362,7 @@ ixgb_probe(struct pci_dev *pdev, const struct pci_device_id *ent)
 	struct ixgb_adapter *adapter;
 	static int cards_found = 0;
 	int pci_using_dac;
+	u8 addr[ETH_ALEN];
 	int i;
 	int err;
 
@@ -461,7 +462,8 @@ ixgb_probe(struct pci_dev *pdev, const struct pci_device_id *ent)
 		goto err_eeprom;
 	}
 
-	ixgb_get_ee_mac_addr(&adapter->hw, netdev->dev_addr);
+	ixgb_get_ee_mac_addr(&adapter->hw, addr);
+	eth_hw_addr_set(netdev, addr);
 
 	if (!is_valid_ether_addr(netdev->dev_addr)) {
 		netif_err(adapter, probe, adapter->netdev, "Invalid MAC Address\n");
@@ -2227,6 +2229,7 @@ static pci_ers_result_t ixgb_io_slot_reset(struct pci_dev *pdev)
 {
 	struct net_device *netdev = pci_get_drvdata(pdev);
 	struct ixgb_adapter *adapter = netdev_priv(netdev);
+	u8 addr[ETH_ALEN];
 
 	if (pci_enable_device(pdev)) {
 		netif_err(adapter, probe, adapter->netdev,
@@ -2250,7 +2253,8 @@ static pci_ers_result_t ixgb_io_slot_reset(struct pci_dev *pdev)
 			  "After reset, the EEPROM checksum is not valid\n");
 		return PCI_ERS_RESULT_DISCONNECT;
 	}
-	ixgb_get_ee_mac_addr(&adapter->hw, netdev->dev_addr);
+	ixgb_get_ee_mac_addr(&adapter->hw, addr);
+	eth_hw_addr_set(netdev, addr);
 	memcpy(netdev->perm_addr, netdev->dev_addr, netdev->addr_len);
 
 	if (!is_valid_ether_addr(netdev->perm_addr)) {