diff --git a/drivers/net/cnic.c b/drivers/net/cnic.c
index d45eacb76702a5134aea3fc50138af013cb95e29..211c8e9182fc51566fffac1fff201da34bc8ee05 100644
--- a/drivers/net/cnic.c
+++ b/drivers/net/cnic.c
@@ -85,8 +85,6 @@ static int cnic_uio_open(struct uio_info *uinfo, struct inode *inode)
 
 	cp->uio_dev = iminor(inode);
 
-	cnic_shutdown_bnx2_rx_ring(dev);
-
 	cnic_init_bnx2_tx_ring(dev);
 	cnic_init_bnx2_rx_ring(dev);
 
@@ -98,6 +96,8 @@ static int cnic_uio_close(struct uio_info *uinfo, struct inode *inode)
 	struct cnic_dev *dev = uinfo->priv;
 	struct cnic_local *cp = dev->cnic_priv;
 
+	cnic_shutdown_bnx2_rx_ring(dev);
+
 	cp->uio_dev = -1;
 	return 0;
 }