diff --git a/drivers/mmc/host/at91_mci.c b/drivers/mmc/host/at91_mci.c
index 1f8b5b36222c..e556d42cc45a 100644
--- a/drivers/mmc/host/at91_mci.c
+++ b/drivers/mmc/host/at91_mci.c
@@ -1088,6 +1088,8 @@ static int __init at91_mci_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 		goto fail0;
 	}
 
+	setup_timer(&host->timer, at91_timeout_timer, (unsigned long)host);
+
 	platform_set_drvdata(pdev, mmc);
 
 	/*
@@ -1101,8 +1103,6 @@ static int __init at91_mci_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 
 	mmc_add_host(mmc);
 
-	setup_timer(&host->timer, at91_timeout_timer, (unsigned long)host);
-
 	/*
 	 * monitor card insertion/removal if we can
 	 */