diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/dec/tulip/winbond-840.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/dec/tulip/winbond-840.c
index 32d7229544fa..6f88d687b6d2 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/dec/tulip/winbond-840.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/dec/tulip/winbond-840.c
@@ -655,10 +655,8 @@ static int netdev_open(struct net_device *dev)
 		netdev_dbg(dev, "Done netdev_open()\n");
 
 	/* Set the timer to check for link beat. */
-	init_timer(&np->timer);
+	setup_timer(&np->timer, netdev_timer, (unsigned long)dev);
 	np->timer.expires = jiffies + 1*HZ;
-	np->timer.data = (unsigned long)dev;
-	np->timer.function = netdev_timer;				/* timer handler */
 	add_timer(&np->timer);
 	return 0;
 out_err: