diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/dpaa2/dpaa2-eth.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/dpaa2/dpaa2-eth.c
index 1108e1730841..110075336a75 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/dpaa2/dpaa2-eth.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/freescale/dpaa2/dpaa2-eth.c
@@ -4511,12 +4511,12 @@ static int dpaa2_eth_remove(struct fsl_mc_device *ls_dev)
 #ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_FS
 	dpaa2_dbg_remove(priv);
 #endif
+
+	unregister_netdev(net_dev);
 	rtnl_lock();
 	dpaa2_eth_disconnect_mac(priv);
 	rtnl_unlock();
 
-	unregister_netdev(net_dev);
-
 	dpaa2_eth_dl_port_del(priv);
 	dpaa2_eth_dl_traps_unregister(priv);
 	dpaa2_eth_dl_unregister(priv);