diff --git a/net/ipv6/ip6_tunnel.c b/net/ipv6/ip6_tunnel.c
index 6c5dfec7a37796..3991b21e24ad35 100644
--- a/net/ipv6/ip6_tunnel.c
+++ b/net/ipv6/ip6_tunnel.c
@@ -343,12 +343,12 @@ static int ip6_tnl_create2(struct net_device *dev)
 
 	t = netdev_priv(dev);
 
+	dev->rtnl_link_ops = &ip6_link_ops;
 	err = register_netdevice(dev);
 	if (err < 0)
 		goto out;
 
 	strcpy(t->parms.name, dev->name);
-	dev->rtnl_link_ops = &ip6_link_ops;
 
 	dev_hold(dev);
 	ip6_tnl_link(ip6n, t);