diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/qualcomm/emac/emac-mac.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/qualcomm/emac/emac-mac.c
index 98570eb6ef1a..e4793d703ed9 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/qualcomm/emac/emac-mac.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/qualcomm/emac/emac-mac.c
@@ -314,8 +314,6 @@ struct emac_skb_cb {
 	RX_PKT_INT2     |\
 	RX_PKT_INT3)
 
-#define EMAC_MAC_IRQ_RES                                    	"core0"
-
 void emac_mac_multicast_addr_set(struct emac_adapter *adpt, u8 *addr)
 {
 	u32 crc32, bit, reg, mta;
@@ -977,26 +975,16 @@ static void emac_adjust_link(struct net_device *netdev)
 int emac_mac_up(struct emac_adapter *adpt)
 {
 	struct net_device *netdev = adpt->netdev;
-	struct emac_irq	*irq = &adpt->irq;
 	int ret;
 
 	emac_mac_rx_tx_ring_reset_all(adpt);
 	emac_mac_config(adpt);
-
-	ret = request_irq(irq->irq, emac_isr, 0, EMAC_MAC_IRQ_RES, irq);
-	if (ret) {
-		netdev_err(adpt->netdev, "could not request %s irq\n",
-			   EMAC_MAC_IRQ_RES);
-		return ret;
-	}
-
 	emac_mac_rx_descs_refill(adpt, &adpt->rx_q);
 
 	ret = phy_connect_direct(netdev, adpt->phydev, emac_adjust_link,
 				 PHY_INTERFACE_MODE_SGMII);
 	if (ret) {
 		netdev_err(adpt->netdev, "could not connect phy\n");
-		free_irq(irq->irq, irq);
 		return ret;
 	}
 
@@ -1030,7 +1018,6 @@ void emac_mac_down(struct emac_adapter *adpt)
 	writel(DIS_INT, adpt->base + EMAC_INT_STATUS);
 	writel(0, adpt->base + EMAC_INT_MASK);
 	synchronize_irq(adpt->irq.irq);
-	free_irq(adpt->irq.irq, &adpt->irq);
 
 	phy_disconnect(adpt->phydev);
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/qualcomm/emac/emac.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/qualcomm/emac/emac.c
index b74ec7fba0e0..3e1be9107d55 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/qualcomm/emac/emac.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/qualcomm/emac/emac.c
@@ -256,18 +256,27 @@ static int emac_change_mtu(struct net_device *netdev, int new_mtu)
 static int emac_open(struct net_device *netdev)
 {
 	struct emac_adapter *adpt = netdev_priv(netdev);
+	struct emac_irq	*irq = &adpt->irq;
 	int ret;
 
+	ret = request_irq(irq->irq, emac_isr, 0, "emac-core0", irq);
+	if (ret) {
+		netdev_err(adpt->netdev, "could not request emac-core0 irq\n");
+		return ret;
+	}
+
 	/* allocate rx/tx dma buffer & descriptors */
 	ret = emac_mac_rx_tx_rings_alloc_all(adpt);
 	if (ret) {
 		netdev_err(adpt->netdev, "error allocating rx/tx rings\n");
+		free_irq(irq->irq, irq);
 		return ret;
 	}
 
 	ret = emac_mac_up(adpt);
 	if (ret) {
 		emac_mac_rx_tx_rings_free_all(adpt);
+		free_irq(irq->irq, irq);
 		return ret;
 	}
 
@@ -286,6 +295,8 @@ static int emac_close(struct net_device *netdev)
 	emac_mac_down(adpt);
 	emac_mac_rx_tx_rings_free_all(adpt);
 
+	free_irq(adpt->irq.irq, &adpt->irq);
+
 	mutex_unlock(&adpt->reset_lock);
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/qualcomm/emac/emac.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/qualcomm/emac/emac.h
index 1368440ea91d..2725507ae866 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/qualcomm/emac/emac.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/qualcomm/emac/emac.h
@@ -331,7 +331,6 @@ struct emac_adapter {
 
 int emac_reinit_locked(struct emac_adapter *adpt);
 void emac_reg_update32(void __iomem *addr, u32 mask, u32 val);
-irqreturn_t emac_isr(int irq, void *data);
 
 void emac_set_ethtool_ops(struct net_device *netdev);
 void emac_update_hw_stats(struct emac_adapter *adpt);