diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_main.c
index c17c8317e0016..f3dc5dea93005 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ixgbe/ixgbe_main.c
@@ -10372,11 +10372,11 @@ static int ixgbe_probe(struct pci_dev *pdev, const struct pci_device_id *ent)
 			   "hardware.\n");
 	}
 	strcpy(netdev->name, "eth%d");
+	pci_set_drvdata(pdev, adapter);
 	err = register_netdev(netdev);
 	if (err)
 		goto err_register;
 
-	pci_set_drvdata(pdev, adapter);
 
 	/* power down the optics for 82599 SFP+ fiber */
 	if (hw->mac.ops.disable_tx_laser)