diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx4/en_netdev.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx4/en_netdev.c
index 79c6f467d17e..c0247945d835 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx4/en_netdev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx4/en_netdev.c
@@ -770,11 +770,12 @@ static int mlx4_en_do_set_mac(struct mlx4_en_priv *priv)
 					  priv->dev->dev_addr, priv->prev_mac);
 		if (err)
 			en_err(priv, "Failed changing HW MAC address\n");
-		memcpy(priv->prev_mac, priv->dev->dev_addr,
-		       sizeof(priv->prev_mac));
 	} else
 		en_dbg(HW, priv, "Port is down while registering mac, exiting...\n");
 
+	memcpy(priv->prev_mac, priv->dev->dev_addr,
+	       sizeof(priv->prev_mac));
+
 	return err;
 }