diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/lantiq_xrx200.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/lantiq_xrx200.c
index 4a160761b3ff..8c5ba4b81fb7 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/lantiq_xrx200.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/lantiq_xrx200.c
@@ -115,12 +115,6 @@ static void xrx200_flush_dma(struct xrx200_chan *ch)
 static int xrx200_open(struct net_device *net_dev)
 {
 	struct xrx200_priv *priv = netdev_priv(net_dev);
-	int err;
-
-	/* enable clock gate */
-	err = clk_prepare_enable(priv->clk);
-	if (err)
-		return err;
 
 	napi_enable(&priv->chan_tx.napi);
 	ltq_dma_open(&priv->chan_tx.dma);
@@ -155,8 +149,6 @@ static int xrx200_close(struct net_device *net_dev)
 	napi_disable(&priv->chan_tx.napi);
 	ltq_dma_close(&priv->chan_tx.dma);
 
-	clk_disable_unprepare(priv->clk);
-
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -497,6 +489,11 @@ static int xrx200_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	if (err)
 		return err;
 
+	/* enable clock gate */
+	err = clk_prepare_enable(priv->clk);
+	if (err)
+		goto err_uninit_dma;
+
 	/* set IPG to 12 */
 	xrx200_pmac_mask(priv, PMAC_RX_IPG_MASK, 0xb, PMAC_RX_IPG);
 
@@ -514,9 +511,12 @@ static int xrx200_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 
 	err = register_netdev(net_dev);
 	if (err)
-		goto err_uninit_dma;
+		goto err_unprepare_clk;
 	return err;
 
+err_unprepare_clk:
+	clk_disable_unprepare(priv->clk);
+
 err_uninit_dma:
 	xrx200_hw_cleanup(priv);
 
@@ -536,6 +536,9 @@ static int xrx200_remove(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	/* remove the actual device */
 	unregister_netdev(net_dev);
 
+	/* release the clock */
+	clk_disable_unprepare(priv->clk);
+
 	/* shut down hardware */
 	xrx200_hw_cleanup(priv);