diff --git a/drivers/infiniband/hw/hfi1/ipoib_main.c b/drivers/infiniband/hw/hfi1/ipoib_main.c
index e1a2b02bbd91be..8306ed5c1b8087 100644
--- a/drivers/infiniband/hw/hfi1/ipoib_main.c
+++ b/drivers/infiniband/hw/hfi1/ipoib_main.c
@@ -168,12 +168,6 @@ static void hfi1_ipoib_netdev_dtor(struct net_device *dev)
 	free_percpu(dev->tstats);
 }
 
-static void hfi1_ipoib_free_rdma_netdev(struct net_device *dev)
-{
-	hfi1_ipoib_netdev_dtor(dev);
-	free_netdev(dev);
-}
-
 static void hfi1_ipoib_set_id(struct net_device *dev, int id)
 {
 	struct hfi1_ipoib_dev_priv *priv = hfi1_ipoib_priv(dev);
@@ -211,24 +205,23 @@ static int hfi1_ipoib_setup_rn(struct ib_device *device,
 	priv->port_num = port_num;
 	priv->netdev_ops = netdev->netdev_ops;
 
-	netdev->netdev_ops = &hfi1_ipoib_netdev_ops;
-
 	ib_query_pkey(device, port_num, priv->pkey_index, &priv->pkey);
 
 	rc = hfi1_ipoib_txreq_init(priv);
 	if (rc) {
 		dd_dev_err(dd, "IPoIB netdev TX init - failed(%d)\n", rc);
-		hfi1_ipoib_free_rdma_netdev(netdev);
 		return rc;
 	}
 
 	rc = hfi1_ipoib_rxq_init(netdev);
 	if (rc) {
 		dd_dev_err(dd, "IPoIB netdev RX init - failed(%d)\n", rc);
-		hfi1_ipoib_free_rdma_netdev(netdev);
+		hfi1_ipoib_txreq_deinit(priv);
 		return rc;
 	}
 
+	netdev->netdev_ops = &hfi1_ipoib_netdev_ops;
+
 	netdev->priv_destructor = hfi1_ipoib_netdev_dtor;
 	netdev->needs_free_netdev = true;