diff --git a/net/tipc/bearer.c b/net/tipc/bearer.c
index a38c89969c68..574b86193b15 100644
--- a/net/tipc/bearer.c
+++ b/net/tipc/bearer.c
@@ -610,8 +610,13 @@ static struct notifier_block notifier = {
 
 int tipc_bearer_setup(void)
 {
+	int err;
+
+	err = register_netdevice_notifier(&notifier);
+	if (err)
+		return err;
 	dev_add_pack(&tipc_packet_type);
-	return register_netdevice_notifier(&notifier);
+	return 0;
 }
 
 void tipc_bearer_cleanup(void)
diff --git a/net/tipc/config.c b/net/tipc/config.c
index c301a9a592d8..e74eef2e7490 100644
--- a/net/tipc/config.c
+++ b/net/tipc/config.c
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ static struct sk_buff *cfg_set_own_addr(void)
 	if (tipc_own_addr)
 		return tipc_cfg_reply_error_string(TIPC_CFG_NOT_SUPPORTED
 						   " (cannot change node address once assigned)");
-	tipc_core_start_net(addr);
+	tipc_net_start(addr);
 	return tipc_cfg_reply_none();
 }
 
diff --git a/net/tipc/core.c b/net/tipc/core.c
index cfd9cc150110..80c20647b3d2 100644
--- a/net/tipc/core.c
+++ b/net/tipc/core.c
@@ -76,38 +76,14 @@ struct sk_buff *tipc_buf_acquire(u32 size)
 	return skb;
 }
 
-/**
- * tipc_core_stop_net - shut down TIPC networking sub-systems
- */
-static void tipc_core_stop_net(void)
-{
-	tipc_net_stop();
-	tipc_bearer_cleanup();
-}
-
-/**
- * start_net - start TIPC networking sub-systems
- */
-int tipc_core_start_net(unsigned long addr)
-{
-	int res;
-
-	tipc_net_start(addr);
-	res = tipc_bearer_setup();
-	if (res < 0)
-		goto err;
-	return res;
-
-err:
-	tipc_core_stop_net();
-	return res;
-}
-
 /**
  * tipc_core_stop - switch TIPC from SINGLE NODE to NOT RUNNING mode
  */
 static void tipc_core_stop(void)
 {
+	tipc_handler_stop();
+	tipc_net_stop();
+	tipc_bearer_cleanup();
 	tipc_netlink_stop();
 	tipc_cfg_stop();
 	tipc_subscr_stop();
@@ -158,7 +134,13 @@ static int tipc_core_start(void)
 	if (err)
 		goto out_cfg;
 
+	err = tipc_bearer_setup();
+	if (err)
+		goto out_bearer;
+
 	return 0;
+out_bearer:
+	tipc_cfg_stop();
 out_cfg:
 	tipc_subscr_stop();
 out_subscr:
@@ -203,8 +185,6 @@ static int __init tipc_init(void)
 
 static void __exit tipc_exit(void)
 {
-	tipc_handler_stop();
-	tipc_core_stop_net();
 	tipc_core_stop();
 	pr_info("Deactivated\n");
 }
diff --git a/net/tipc/core.h b/net/tipc/core.h
index 5569d96b4da3..4dfe137587bb 100644
--- a/net/tipc/core.h
+++ b/net/tipc/core.h
@@ -90,7 +90,6 @@ extern int tipc_random __read_mostly;
 /*
  * Routines available to privileged subsystems
  */
-int tipc_core_start_net(unsigned long);
 int tipc_handler_start(void);
 void tipc_handler_stop(void);
 int tipc_netlink_start(void);