diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/pxa168_eth.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/pxa168_eth.c
index c3b209cd06609fb85ffe3283d8c31028da8e6a60..a3e394c4781931cf41ddadd990b317daf4f8c954 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/pxa168_eth.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/pxa168_eth.c
@@ -1153,8 +1153,8 @@ static int pxa168_eth_open(struct net_device *dev)
 	pep->rx_used_desc_q = 0;
 	pep->rx_curr_desc_q = 0;
 	netif_carrier_off(dev);
-	eth_port_start(dev);
 	napi_enable(&pep->napi);
+	eth_port_start(dev);
 	return 0;
 out_free_rx_skb:
 	rxq_deinit(dev);