diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/init.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/init.c
index d4c909f8e474d7..57622e0b6836e1 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/init.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/init.c
@@ -775,6 +775,11 @@ int ath9k_init_device(u16 devid, struct ath_softc *sc,
 		ARRAY_SIZE(ath9k_tpt_blink));
 #endif
 
+	INIT_WORK(&sc->hw_reset_work, ath_reset_work);
+	INIT_WORK(&sc->hw_check_work, ath_hw_check);
+	INIT_WORK(&sc->paprd_work, ath_paprd_calibrate);
+	INIT_DELAYED_WORK(&sc->hw_pll_work, ath_hw_pll_work);
+
 	/* Register with mac80211 */
 	error = ieee80211_register_hw(hw);
 	if (error)
@@ -793,10 +798,6 @@ int ath9k_init_device(u16 devid, struct ath_softc *sc,
 			goto error_world;
 	}
 
-	INIT_WORK(&sc->hw_reset_work, ath_reset_work);
-	INIT_WORK(&sc->hw_check_work, ath_hw_check);
-	INIT_WORK(&sc->paprd_work, ath_paprd_calibrate);
-	INIT_DELAYED_WORK(&sc->hw_pll_work, ath_hw_pll_work);
 	sc->last_rssi = ATH_RSSI_DUMMY_MARKER;
 
 	ath_init_leds(sc);