diff --git a/src/net/netdevice.c b/src/net/netdevice.c
index 813823760..301738173 100644
--- a/src/net/netdevice.c
+++ b/src/net/netdevice.c
@@ -463,13 +463,13 @@ int netdev_open ( struct net_device *netdev ) {
 
 	DBGC ( netdev, "NETDEV %s opening\n", netdev->name );
 
-	/* Mark as opened */
-	netdev->state |= NETDEV_OPEN;
-
 	/* Open the device */
 	if ( ( rc = netdev->op->open ( netdev ) ) != 0 )
 		return rc;
 
+	/* Mark as opened */
+	netdev->state |= NETDEV_OPEN;
+
 	/* Add to head of open devices list */
 	list_add ( &netdev->open_list, &open_net_devices );