diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/qlogic/qede/qede_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/qlogic/qede/qede_main.c
index d163e72aa2a6..7a8e07d0e01c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/qlogic/qede/qede_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/qlogic/qede/qede_main.c
@@ -854,6 +854,13 @@ static int __qede_probe(struct pci_dev *pdev, u32 dp_module, u8 dp_level,
 	if (rc)
 		goto err3;
 
+	/* Prepare the lock prior to the registeration of the netdev,
+	 * as once it's registered we might reach flows requiring it
+	 * [it's even possible to reach a flow needing it directly
+	 * from there, although it's unlikely].
+	 */
+	INIT_DELAYED_WORK(&edev->sp_task, qede_sp_task);
+	mutex_init(&edev->qede_lock);
 	rc = register_netdev(edev->ndev);
 	if (rc) {
 		DP_NOTICE(edev, "Cannot register net-device\n");
@@ -878,8 +885,6 @@ static int __qede_probe(struct pci_dev *pdev, u32 dp_module, u8 dp_level,
 		qede_set_dcbnl_ops(edev->ndev);
 #endif
 
-	INIT_DELAYED_WORK(&edev->sp_task, qede_sp_task);
-	mutex_init(&edev->qede_lock);
 	edev->rx_copybreak = QEDE_RX_HDR_SIZE;
 
 	DP_INFO(edev, "Ending successfully qede probe\n");