diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/ibm/ibmveth.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/ibm/ibmveth.c
index 73e051d26b9d..3e44f6b714d4 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/ibm/ibmveth.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/ibm/ibmveth.c
@@ -718,10 +718,6 @@ static int ibmveth_open(struct net_device *netdev)
 	if (rc != 0) {
 		netdev_err(netdev, "unable to request irq 0x%x, rc %d\n",
 			   netdev->irq, rc);
-		do {
-			lpar_rc = h_free_logical_lan(adapter->vdev->unit_address);
-		} while (H_IS_LONG_BUSY(lpar_rc) || (lpar_rc == H_BUSY));
-
 		goto out_free_buffer_pools;
 	}
 
@@ -737,6 +733,9 @@ static int ibmveth_open(struct net_device *netdev)
 	return 0;
 
 out_free_buffer_pools:
+	do {
+		lpar_rc = h_free_logical_lan(adapter->vdev->unit_address);
+	} while (H_IS_LONG_BUSY(lpar_rc) || (lpar_rc == H_BUSY));
 	while (--i >= 0) {
 		if (adapter->rx_buff_pool[i].active)
 			ibmveth_free_buffer_pool(adapter,