diff --git a/target/linux/ar71xx/files/drivers/net/ag71xx/ag71xx_main.c b/target/linux/ar71xx/files/drivers/net/ag71xx/ag71xx_main.c
index 3644b2dd91..06a1f67d88 100644
--- a/target/linux/ar71xx/files/drivers/net/ag71xx/ag71xx_main.c
+++ b/target/linux/ar71xx/files/drivers/net/ag71xx/ag71xx_main.c
@@ -580,15 +580,15 @@ static int ag71xx_stop(struct net_device *dev)
 	struct ag71xx *ag = netdev_priv(dev);
 	unsigned long flags;
 
+	netif_carrier_off(dev);
+	ag71xx_phy_stop(ag);
+
 	spin_lock_irqsave(&ag->lock, flags);
 
 	netif_stop_queue(dev);
 
 	ag71xx_hw_stop(ag);
 
-	netif_carrier_off(dev);
-	ag71xx_phy_stop(ag);
-
 	napi_disable(&ag->napi);
 	del_timer_sync(&ag->oom_timer);