Index: sys/dev/ixgbe/if_ix.c
===================================================================
--- sys/dev/ixgbe/if_ix.c	(revision 325624)
+++ sys/dev/ixgbe/if_ix.c	(working copy)
@@ -725,11 +725,6 @@
 		goto err_out;
 	}
 
-	/* let hardware know driver is loaded */
-	ctrl_ext = IXGBE_READ_REG(hw, IXGBE_CTRL_EXT);
-	ctrl_ext |= IXGBE_CTRL_EXT_DRV_LOAD;
-	IXGBE_WRITE_REG(hw, IXGBE_CTRL_EXT, ctrl_ext);
-
 	hw->allow_unsupported_sfp = allow_unsupported_sfp;
 
 	/*
@@ -929,6 +924,11 @@
 	if (adapter->feat_en & IXGBE_FEATURE_NETMAP)
 		ixgbe_netmap_attach(adapter);
 
+	/* let hardware know driver is loaded */
+	ctrl_ext = IXGBE_READ_REG(hw, IXGBE_CTRL_EXT);
+	ctrl_ext |= IXGBE_CTRL_EXT_DRV_LOAD;
+	IXGBE_WRITE_REG(hw, IXGBE_CTRL_EXT, ctrl_ext);
+
 	INIT_DEBUGOUT("ixgbe_attach: end");
 
 	return (0);