diff --git a/drivers/net/xen-netfront.c b/drivers/net/xen-netfront.c
index 744b111cff6a..e99a07d5fda7 100644
--- a/drivers/net/xen-netfront.c
+++ b/drivers/net/xen-netfront.c
@@ -1982,10 +1982,6 @@ static int xennet_connect(struct net_device *dev)
 	/* talk_to_netback() sets the correct number of queues */
 	num_queues = dev->real_num_tx_queues;
 
-	rtnl_lock();
-	netdev_update_features(dev);
-	rtnl_unlock();
-
 	if (dev->reg_state == NETREG_UNINITIALIZED) {
 		err = register_netdev(dev);
 		if (err) {
@@ -1995,6 +1991,10 @@ static int xennet_connect(struct net_device *dev)
 		}
 	}
 
+	rtnl_lock();
+	netdev_update_features(dev);
+	rtnl_unlock();
+
 	/*
 	 * All public and private state should now be sane.  Get
 	 * ready to start sending and receiving packets and give the driver