diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/realtek/r8169.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/realtek/r8169.c
index 0bf7d175925036644894aedf4835eece7c01877a..b4779acb6b5c1f64b54f296a9727099e22f0ca4e 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/realtek/r8169.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/realtek/r8169.c
@@ -8660,12 +8660,12 @@ static int rtl_init_one(struct pci_dev *pdev, const struct pci_device_id *ent)
 	if (!tp->counters)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
+	pci_set_drvdata(pdev, dev);
+
 	rc = register_netdev(dev);
 	if (rc < 0)
 		return rc;
 
-	pci_set_drvdata(pdev, dev);
-
 	netif_info(tp, probe, dev, "%s at 0x%p, %pM, XID %08x IRQ %d\n",
 		   rtl_chip_infos[chipset].name, ioaddr, dev->dev_addr,
 		   (u32)(RTL_R32(TxConfig) & 0x9cf0f8ff), pdev->irq);