diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/sis/sis900.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/sis/sis900.c
index 40bd88362e3d94650f7eb9273efe2e5850b61312..cb61247b052632a975e7dca00fa78b3787867d8e 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/sis/sis900.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/sis/sis900.c
@@ -1065,10 +1065,8 @@ sis900_open(struct net_device *net_dev)
 
 	/* Set the timer to switch to check for link beat and perhaps switch
 	   to an alternate media type. */
-	init_timer(&sis_priv->timer);
+	setup_timer(&sis_priv->timer, sis900_timer, (unsigned long)net_dev);
 	sis_priv->timer.expires = jiffies + HZ;
-	sis_priv->timer.data = (unsigned long)net_dev;
-	sis_priv->timer.function = sis900_timer;
 	add_timer(&sis_priv->timer);
 
 	return 0;