diff --git a/net/core/dev.c b/net/core/dev.c
index dfb62998866a..2731570eba5b 100644
--- a/net/core/dev.c
+++ b/net/core/dev.c
@@ -3042,11 +3042,11 @@ void netdev_run_todo(void)
 
 		switch(dev->reg_state) {
 		case NETREG_REGISTERING:
+			dev->reg_state = NETREG_REGISTERED;
 			err = netdev_register_sysfs(dev);
 			if (err)
 				printk(KERN_ERR "%s: failed sysfs registration (%d)\n",
 				       dev->name, err);
-			dev->reg_state = NETREG_REGISTERED;
 			break;
 
 		case NETREG_UNREGISTERING: