diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/skge.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/skge.c
index 18a87a57fc0aa4ca9ff3bb406a9633fc281bc308..f580f0535bb481667c40ccdc7817c2e2a6ae3966 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/skge.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/skge.c
@@ -2576,6 +2576,7 @@ static int skge_up(struct net_device *dev)
 	}
 
 	/* Initialize MAC */
+	netif_carrier_off(dev);
 	spin_lock_bh(&hw->phy_lock);
 	if (is_genesis(hw))
 		genesis_mac_init(hw, port);