diff --git a/drivers/net/usb/lan78xx.c b/drivers/net/usb/lan78xx.c
index 145bb7cbf5b2bec5a6d5e0a81ce8079a81cbb23a..bdb696612e11f066d37b506bbc164e155d80d469 100644
--- a/drivers/net/usb/lan78xx.c
+++ b/drivers/net/usb/lan78xx.c
@@ -2503,7 +2503,7 @@ static void lan78xx_init_stats(struct lan78xx_net *dev)
 	dev->stats.rollover_max.eee_tx_lpi_transitions = 0xFFFFFFFF;
 	dev->stats.rollover_max.eee_tx_lpi_time = 0xFFFFFFFF;
 
-	lan78xx_defer_kevent(dev, EVENT_STAT_UPDATE);
+	set_bit(EVENT_STAT_UPDATE, &dev->flags);
 }
 
 static int lan78xx_open(struct net_device *net)