diff --git a/net/ipv6/ip6_vti.c b/net/ipv6/ip6_vti.c
index f4b4a4a5f4ba7..d82042c8d8fd4 100644
--- a/net/ipv6/ip6_vti.c
+++ b/net/ipv6/ip6_vti.c
@@ -189,12 +189,12 @@ static int vti6_tnl_create2(struct net_device *dev)
 	struct vti6_net *ip6n = net_generic(net, vti6_net_id);
 	int err;
 
+	dev->rtnl_link_ops = &vti6_link_ops;
 	err = register_netdevice(dev);
 	if (err < 0)
 		goto out;
 
 	strcpy(t->parms.name, dev->name);
-	dev->rtnl_link_ops = &vti6_link_ops;
 
 	dev_hold(dev);
 	vti6_tnl_link(ip6n, t);