diff --git a/drivers/net/hippi/rrunner.c b/drivers/net/hippi/rrunner.c
index 16105292b140..74e845fa2e07 100644
--- a/drivers/net/hippi/rrunner.c
+++ b/drivers/net/hippi/rrunner.c
@@ -1355,7 +1355,9 @@ static int rr_close(struct net_device *dev)
 
 	rrpriv->fw_running = 0;
 
+	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&rrpriv->lock, flags);
 	del_timer_sync(&rrpriv->timer);
+	spin_lock_irqsave(&rrpriv->lock, flags);
 
 	writel(0, &regs->TxPi);
 	writel(0, &regs->IpRxPi);