diff --git a/net/sched/sch_netem.c b/net/sched/sch_netem.c
index aa9e07816feb..cbf402451c20 100644
--- a/net/sched/sch_netem.c
+++ b/net/sched/sch_netem.c
@@ -956,11 +956,11 @@ static int netem_init(struct Qdisc *sch, struct nlattr *opt)
 	struct netem_sched_data *q = qdisc_priv(sch);
 	int ret;
 
+	qdisc_watchdog_init(&q->watchdog, sch);
+
 	if (!opt)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
-	qdisc_watchdog_init(&q->watchdog, sch);
-
 	q->loss_model = CLG_RANDOM;
 	ret = netem_change(sch, opt);
 	if (ret)