diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/realtek/r8169_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/realtek/r8169_main.c
index bbe21db20417..86c44bc5f73f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/realtek/r8169_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/realtek/r8169_main.c
@@ -5217,8 +5217,8 @@ static int rtl_get_ether_clk(struct rtl8169_private *tp)
 
 static void rtl_init_mac_address(struct rtl8169_private *tp)
 {
+	u8 mac_addr[ETH_ALEN] __aligned(2) = {};
 	struct net_device *dev = tp->dev;
-	u8 mac_addr[ETH_ALEN];
 	int rc;
 
 	rc = eth_platform_get_mac_address(tp_to_dev(tp), mac_addr);
@@ -5233,7 +5233,8 @@ static void rtl_init_mac_address(struct rtl8169_private *tp)
 	if (is_valid_ether_addr(mac_addr))
 		goto done;
 
-	eth_hw_addr_random(dev);
+	eth_random_addr(mac_addr);
+	dev->addr_assign_type = NET_ADDR_RANDOM;
 	dev_warn(tp_to_dev(tp), "can't read MAC address, setting random one\n");
 done:
 	eth_hw_addr_set(dev, mac_addr);