diff --git a/drivers/net/macsec.c b/drivers/net/macsec.c
index 7f5c5e0f9cf9..d13e6e15d7b5 100644
--- a/drivers/net/macsec.c
+++ b/drivers/net/macsec.c
@@ -3179,6 +3179,8 @@ static int macsec_newlink(struct net *net, struct net_device *dev,
 	if (err < 0)
 		return err;
 
+	dev_hold(real_dev);
+
 	/* need to be already registered so that ->init has run and
 	 * the MAC addr is set
 	 */
@@ -3207,8 +3209,6 @@ static int macsec_newlink(struct net *net, struct net_device *dev,
 
 	macsec_generation++;
 
-	dev_hold(real_dev);
-
 	return 0;
 
 del_dev: