diff --git a/hw/net/dp8393x.c b/hw/net/dp8393x.c
index cfbc2ee552..c2ac2a110e 100644
--- a/hw/net/dp8393x.c
+++ b/hw/net/dp8393x.c
@@ -923,6 +923,7 @@ static void dp8393x_reset(DeviceState *dev)
     timer_del(s->watchdog);
 
     memset(s->regs, 0, sizeof(s->regs));
+    s->regs[SONIC_SR] = 0x0004; /* only revision recognized by Linux/mips */
     s->regs[SONIC_CR] = SONIC_CR_RST | SONIC_CR_STP | SONIC_CR_RXDIS;
     s->regs[SONIC_DCR] &= ~(SONIC_DCR_EXBUS | SONIC_DCR_LBR);
     s->regs[SONIC_RCR] &= ~(SONIC_RCR_LB0 | SONIC_RCR_LB1 | SONIC_RCR_BRD | SONIC_RCR_RNT);
@@ -975,7 +976,6 @@ static void dp8393x_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     qemu_format_nic_info_str(qemu_get_queue(s->nic), s->conf.macaddr.a);
 
     s->watchdog = timer_new_ns(QEMU_CLOCK_VIRTUAL, dp8393x_watchdog, s);
-    s->regs[SONIC_SR] = 0x0004; /* only revision recognized by Linux */
 
     memory_region_init_ram(&s->prom, OBJECT(dev),
                            "dp8393x-prom", SONIC_PROM_SIZE, &local_err);