diff --git a/arch/um/drivers/net_kern.c b/arch/um/drivers/net_kern.c
index 1669240c7a25..b305f8247909 100644
--- a/arch/um/drivers/net_kern.c
+++ b/arch/um/drivers/net_kern.c
@@ -168,7 +168,6 @@ static int uml_net_open(struct net_device *dev)
 		goto out_close;
 	}
 
-	lp->tl.data = (unsigned long) &lp->user;
 	netif_start_queue(dev);
 
 	/* clear buffer - it can happen that the host side of the interface
@@ -278,10 +277,11 @@ static const struct ethtool_ops uml_net_ethtool_ops = {
 	.get_ts_info	= ethtool_op_get_ts_info,
 };
 
-static void uml_net_user_timer_expire(unsigned long _conn)
+static void uml_net_user_timer_expire(struct timer_list *t)
 {
 #ifdef undef
-	struct connection *conn = (struct connection *)_conn;
+	struct uml_net_private *lp = from_timer(lp, t, tl);
+	struct connection *conn = &lp->user;
 
 	dprintk(KERN_INFO "uml_net_user_timer_expire [%p]\n", conn);
 	do_connect(conn);
@@ -458,9 +458,8 @@ static void eth_configure(int n, void *init, char *mac,
 		  .add_address 		= transport->user->add_address,
 		  .delete_address  	= transport->user->delete_address });
 
-	init_timer(&lp->tl);
+	timer_setup(&lp->tl, uml_net_user_timer_expire, 0);
 	spin_lock_init(&lp->lock);
-	lp->tl.function = uml_net_user_timer_expire;
 	memcpy(lp->mac, dev->dev_addr, sizeof(lp->mac));
 
 	if ((transport->user->init != NULL) &&