diff -puN drivers/net/atl1e/atl1e_main.c~drivers-net-atl1e-dont-take-the-mdio_lock-in-atl1e_probe drivers/net/atl1e/atl1e_main.c
--- a/drivers/net/atl1e/atl1e_main.c~drivers-net-atl1e-dont-take-the-mdio_lock-in-atl1e_probe
+++ a/drivers/net/atl1e/atl1e_main.c
@@ -2390,9 +2390,7 @@ static int __devinit atl1e_probe(struct 
 	}
 
 	/* 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);