diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/init.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/init.c
index bb7936090b915a..b8e520fc2870bf 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/init.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/init.c
@@ -580,15 +580,15 @@ static int ath9k_of_init(struct ath_softc *sc)
 		ret = ath9k_eeprom_request(sc, eeprom_name);
 		if (ret)
 			return ret;
+
+		ah->ah_flags &= ~AH_USE_EEPROM;
+		ah->ah_flags |= AH_NO_EEP_SWAP;
 	}
 
 	mac = of_get_mac_address(np);
 	if (mac)
 		ether_addr_copy(common->macaddr, mac);
 
-	ah->ah_flags &= ~AH_USE_EEPROM;
-	ah->ah_flags |= AH_NO_EEP_SWAP;
-
 	return 0;
 }