diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/atheros/alx/main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/atheros/alx/main.c
index 0e0b242a9dd4..027398ebbba6 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/atheros/alx/main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/atheros/alx/main.c
@@ -1245,6 +1245,8 @@ static int alx_probe(struct pci_dev *pdev, const struct pci_device_id *ent)
 
 	SET_NETDEV_DEV(netdev, &pdev->dev);
 	alx = netdev_priv(netdev);
+	spin_lock_init(&alx->hw.mdio_lock);
+	spin_lock_init(&alx->irq_lock);
 	alx->dev = netdev;
 	alx->hw.pdev = pdev;
 	alx->msg_enable = NETIF_MSG_LINK | NETIF_MSG_HW | NETIF_MSG_IFUP |
@@ -1327,9 +1329,6 @@ static int alx_probe(struct pci_dev *pdev, const struct pci_device_id *ent)
 
 	INIT_WORK(&alx->link_check_wk, alx_link_check);
 	INIT_WORK(&alx->reset_wk, alx_reset);
-	spin_lock_init(&alx->hw.mdio_lock);
-	spin_lock_init(&alx->irq_lock);
-
 	netif_carrier_off(netdev);
 
 	err = register_netdev(netdev);