diff --git a/net/core/net-sysfs.c b/net/core/net-sysfs.c
index 4e7b847..90e2177 100644
--- a/net/core/net-sysfs.c
+++ b/net/core/net-sysfs.c
@@ -449,7 +449,6 @@
 	struct device *dev = &(net->dev);
 	struct attribute_group **groups = net->sysfs_groups;
 
-	device_initialize(dev);
 	dev->class = &net_class;
 	dev->platform_data = net;
 	dev->groups = groups;
@@ -470,6 +469,12 @@
 	return device_add(dev);
 }
 
+void netdev_initialize_kobject(struct net_device *net)
+{
+	struct device *device = &(net->dev);
+	device_initialize(device);
+}
+
 int netdev_kobject_init(void)
 {
 	return class_register(&net_class);