diff --git a/drivers/net/smc91x.c b/drivers/net/smc91x.c
index 1438fdd20826487a0d8d0535143f484b1111a3be..c5bc8ae84dd3989793e0bef7589b54dada28607a 100644
--- a/drivers/net/smc91x.c
+++ b/drivers/net/smc91x.c
@@ -1983,6 +1983,10 @@ static int __init smc_probe(struct net_device *dev, void __iomem *ioaddr)
 	if (lp->version >= (CHIP_91100 << 4))
 		smc_phy_detect(dev);
 
+	/* then shut everything down to save power */
+	smc_shutdown(dev);
+	smc_phy_powerdown(dev);
+
 	/* Set default parameters */
 	lp->msg_enable = NETIF_MSG_LINK;
 	lp->ctl_rfduplx = 0;