diff --git a/drivers/net/usb/ax88179_178a.c b/drivers/net/usb/ax88179_178a.c
index df9d767cb524..56ede5fa0261 100644
--- a/drivers/net/usb/ax88179_178a.c
+++ b/drivers/net/usb/ax88179_178a.c
@@ -174,6 +174,7 @@ struct ax88179_data {
 	u32 wol_supported;
 	u32 wolopts;
 	u8 disconnecting;
+	u8 initialized;
 };
 
 struct ax88179_int_data {
@@ -1673,6 +1674,18 @@ static int ax88179_reset(struct usbnet *dev)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+static int ax88179_net_reset(struct usbnet *dev)
+{
+	struct ax88179_data *ax179_data = dev->driver_priv;
+
+	if (ax179_data->initialized)
+		ax88179_reset(dev);
+	else
+		ax179_data->initialized = 1;
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
 static int ax88179_stop(struct usbnet *dev)
 {
 	u16 tmp16;
@@ -1692,6 +1705,7 @@ static const struct driver_info ax88179_info = {
 	.unbind = ax88179_unbind,
 	.status = ax88179_status,
 	.link_reset = ax88179_link_reset,
+	.reset = ax88179_net_reset,
 	.stop = ax88179_stop,
 	.flags = FLAG_ETHER | FLAG_FRAMING_AX,
 	.rx_fixup = ax88179_rx_fixup,
@@ -1704,6 +1718,7 @@ static const struct driver_info ax88178a_info = {
 	.unbind = ax88179_unbind,
 	.status = ax88179_status,
 	.link_reset = ax88179_link_reset,
+	.reset = ax88179_net_reset,
 	.stop = ax88179_stop,
 	.flags = FLAG_ETHER | FLAG_FRAMING_AX,
 	.rx_fixup = ax88179_rx_fixup,
@@ -1716,7 +1731,7 @@ static const struct driver_info cypress_GX3_info = {
 	.unbind = ax88179_unbind,
 	.status = ax88179_status,
 	.link_reset = ax88179_link_reset,
-	.reset = ax88179_reset,
+	.reset = ax88179_net_reset,
 	.stop = ax88179_stop,
 	.flags = FLAG_ETHER | FLAG_FRAMING_AX,
 	.rx_fixup = ax88179_rx_fixup,
@@ -1729,7 +1744,7 @@ static const struct driver_info dlink_dub1312_info = {
 	.unbind = ax88179_unbind,
 	.status = ax88179_status,
 	.link_reset = ax88179_link_reset,
-	.reset = ax88179_reset,
+	.reset = ax88179_net_reset,
 	.stop = ax88179_stop,
 	.flags = FLAG_ETHER | FLAG_FRAMING_AX,
 	.rx_fixup = ax88179_rx_fixup,
@@ -1742,7 +1757,7 @@ static const struct driver_info sitecom_info = {
 	.unbind = ax88179_unbind,
 	.status = ax88179_status,
 	.link_reset = ax88179_link_reset,
-	.reset = ax88179_reset,
+	.reset = ax88179_net_reset,
 	.stop = ax88179_stop,
 	.flags = FLAG_ETHER | FLAG_FRAMING_AX,
 	.rx_fixup = ax88179_rx_fixup,
@@ -1755,7 +1770,7 @@ static const struct driver_info samsung_info = {
 	.unbind = ax88179_unbind,
 	.status = ax88179_status,
 	.link_reset = ax88179_link_reset,
-	.reset = ax88179_reset,
+	.reset = ax88179_net_reset,
 	.stop = ax88179_stop,
 	.flags = FLAG_ETHER | FLAG_FRAMING_AX,
 	.rx_fixup = ax88179_rx_fixup,
@@ -1768,7 +1783,7 @@ static const struct driver_info lenovo_info = {
 	.unbind = ax88179_unbind,
 	.status = ax88179_status,
 	.link_reset = ax88179_link_reset,
-	.reset = ax88179_reset,
+	.reset = ax88179_net_reset,
 	.stop = ax88179_stop,
 	.flags = FLAG_ETHER | FLAG_FRAMING_AX,
 	.rx_fixup = ax88179_rx_fixup,
@@ -1781,7 +1796,7 @@ static const struct driver_info belkin_info = {
 	.unbind = ax88179_unbind,
 	.status = ax88179_status,
 	.link_reset = ax88179_link_reset,
-	.reset	= ax88179_reset,
+	.reset	= ax88179_net_reset,
 	.stop	= ax88179_stop,
 	.flags	= FLAG_ETHER | FLAG_FRAMING_AX,
 	.rx_fixup = ax88179_rx_fixup,
@@ -1794,7 +1809,7 @@ static const struct driver_info toshiba_info = {
 	.unbind = ax88179_unbind,
 	.status = ax88179_status,
 	.link_reset = ax88179_link_reset,
-	.reset	= ax88179_reset,
+	.reset	= ax88179_net_reset,
 	.stop = ax88179_stop,
 	.flags	= FLAG_ETHER | FLAG_FRAMING_AX,
 	.rx_fixup = ax88179_rx_fixup,
@@ -1807,7 +1822,7 @@ static const struct driver_info mct_info = {
 	.unbind	= ax88179_unbind,
 	.status	= ax88179_status,
 	.link_reset = ax88179_link_reset,
-	.reset	= ax88179_reset,
+	.reset	= ax88179_net_reset,
 	.stop	= ax88179_stop,
 	.flags	= FLAG_ETHER | FLAG_FRAMING_AX,
 	.rx_fixup = ax88179_rx_fixup,
@@ -1820,7 +1835,7 @@ static const struct driver_info at_umc2000_info = {
 	.unbind = ax88179_unbind,
 	.status = ax88179_status,
 	.link_reset = ax88179_link_reset,
-	.reset  = ax88179_reset,
+	.reset  = ax88179_net_reset,
 	.stop   = ax88179_stop,
 	.flags  = FLAG_ETHER | FLAG_FRAMING_AX,
 	.rx_fixup = ax88179_rx_fixup,
@@ -1833,7 +1848,7 @@ static const struct driver_info at_umc200_info = {
 	.unbind = ax88179_unbind,
 	.status = ax88179_status,
 	.link_reset = ax88179_link_reset,
-	.reset  = ax88179_reset,
+	.reset  = ax88179_net_reset,
 	.stop   = ax88179_stop,
 	.flags  = FLAG_ETHER | FLAG_FRAMING_AX,
 	.rx_fixup = ax88179_rx_fixup,
@@ -1846,7 +1861,7 @@ static const struct driver_info at_umc2000sp_info = {
 	.unbind = ax88179_unbind,
 	.status = ax88179_status,
 	.link_reset = ax88179_link_reset,
-	.reset  = ax88179_reset,
+	.reset  = ax88179_net_reset,
 	.stop   = ax88179_stop,
 	.flags  = FLAG_ETHER | FLAG_FRAMING_AX,
 	.rx_fixup = ax88179_rx_fixup,