diff --git a/drivers/net/lpc32xx_eth.c b/drivers/net/lpc32xx_eth.c
index e76e9bc..3ba5b4b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/lpc32xx_eth.c
+++ b/drivers/net/lpc32xx_eth.c
@@ -304,6 +304,13 @@
 		return -EFAULT;
 	}
 
+	/* write the phy and reg addressse into the MII address reg */
+	writel((phy_adr << MADR_PHY_OFFSET) | (reg_ofs << MADR_REG_OFFSET),
+	       &regs->madr);
+
+	/* write data to the MII write register */
+	writel(data, &regs->mwtd);
+
 	/* wait till the MII is not busy */
 	timeout = MII_TIMEOUT;
 	do {
@@ -319,13 +326,6 @@
 		return -EFAULT;
 	}
 
-	/* write the phy and reg addressse into the MII address reg */
-	writel((phy_adr << MADR_PHY_OFFSET) | (reg_ofs << MADR_REG_OFFSET),
-	       &regs->madr);
-
-	/* write data to the MII write register */
-	writel(data, &regs->mwtd);
-
 	/*debug("%s:(adr %d, off %d) <= %04x\n", __func__, phy_adr,
 		reg_ofs, data);*/