diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnxt/bnxt_ethtool.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnxt/bnxt_ethtool.c
index b901ecb57f25..36da52c0b9af 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnxt/bnxt_ethtool.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnxt/bnxt_ethtool.c
@@ -4848,6 +4848,7 @@ static void bnxt_self_test(struct net_device *dev, struct ethtool_test *etest,
 	if (!bp->num_tests || !BNXT_PF(bp))
 		return;
 
+	memset(buf, 0, sizeof(u64) * bp->num_tests);
 	if (etest->flags & ETH_TEST_FL_OFFLINE &&
 	    bnxt_ulp_registered(bp->edev)) {
 		etest->flags |= ETH_TEST_FL_FAILED;
@@ -4855,7 +4856,6 @@ static void bnxt_self_test(struct net_device *dev, struct ethtool_test *etest,
 		return;
 	}
 
-	memset(buf, 0, sizeof(u64) * bp->num_tests);
 	if (!netif_running(dev)) {
 		etest->flags |= ETH_TEST_FL_FAILED;
 		return;