diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/smsc/smsc911x.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/smsc/smsc911x.c
index 012fb66eed8d..f0afb88d7bc2 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/smsc/smsc911x.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/smsc/smsc911x.c
@@ -2335,14 +2335,14 @@ static int smsc911x_drv_remove(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	pdata = netdev_priv(dev);
 	BUG_ON(!pdata);
 	BUG_ON(!pdata->ioaddr);
-	WARN_ON(dev->phydev);
 
 	SMSC_TRACE(pdata, ifdown, "Stopping driver");
 
+	unregister_netdev(dev);
+
 	mdiobus_unregister(pdata->mii_bus);
 	mdiobus_free(pdata->mii_bus);
 
-	unregister_netdev(dev);
 	res = platform_get_resource_byname(pdev, IORESOURCE_MEM,
 					   "smsc911x-memory");
 	if (!res)