diff --git a/drivers/net/usb/ipheth.c b/drivers/net/usb/ipheth.c
index ca71f6c03859..7275761a1177 100644
--- a/drivers/net/usb/ipheth.c
+++ b/drivers/net/usb/ipheth.c
@@ -291,12 +291,15 @@ static void ipheth_sndbulk_callback(struct urb *urb)
 
 static int ipheth_carrier_set(struct ipheth_device *dev)
 {
-	struct usb_device *udev = dev->udev;
+	struct usb_device *udev;
 	int retval;
+
 	if (!dev)
 		return 0;
 	if (!dev->confirmed_pairing)
 		return 0;
+
+	udev = dev->udev;
 	retval = usb_control_msg(udev,
 			usb_rcvctrlpipe(udev, IPHETH_CTRL_ENDP),
 			IPHETH_CMD_CARRIER_CHECK, /* request */