diff --git a/drivers/net/atl1e/atl1e_main.c
b/drivers/net/atl1e/atl1e_main.c index 7685b99..9b60352 100644
--- a/drivers/net/atl1e/atl1e_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/atl1e/atl1e_main.c
@@ -2390,9 +2390,7 @@ static int __devinit atl1e_probe(struct pci_dev
*pdev, }

        /* Init GPHY as early as possible due to power saving issue  */
-       spin_lock(&adapter->mdio_lock);
        atl1e_phy_init(&adapter->hw);
-       spin_unlock(&adapter->mdio_lock);
        /* reset the controller to
         * put the device in a known good starting state */
        err = atl1e_reset_hw(&adapter->hw);