diff --git a/drivers/net/dm9000.c b/drivers/net/dm9000.c
index fbaff3584bd4982e5c3f72c6079d86f6d12b5f22..ee597e676ee500235f7dace13c570ad92e20724f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/dm9000.c
+++ b/drivers/net/dm9000.c
@@ -1157,9 +1157,6 @@ dm9000_open(struct net_device *dev)
 
 	irqflags |= IRQF_SHARED;
 
-	if (request_irq(dev->irq, dm9000_interrupt, irqflags, dev->name, dev))
-		return -EAGAIN;
-
 	/* GPIO0 on pre-activate PHY, Reg 1F is not set by reset */
 	iow(db, DM9000_GPR, 0);	/* REG_1F bit0 activate phyxcer */
 	mdelay(1); /* delay needs by DM9000B */
@@ -1168,6 +1165,9 @@ dm9000_open(struct net_device *dev)
 	dm9000_reset(db);
 	dm9000_init_dm9000(dev);
 
+	if (request_irq(dev->irq, dm9000_interrupt, irqflags, dev->name, dev))
+		return -EAGAIN;
+
 	/* Init driver variable */
 	db->dbug_cnt = 0;