diff --git a/drivers/net/fs_enet/fs_enet-main.c b/drivers/net/fs_enet/fs_enet-main.c
index 67b4b0728fce..a5baaf59ff66 100644
--- a/drivers/net/fs_enet/fs_enet-main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/fs_enet/fs_enet-main.c
@@ -1093,7 +1093,7 @@ static struct net_device *fs_init_instance(struct device *dev,
 		if (registered)
 			unregister_netdev(ndev);
 
-		if (fep != NULL) {
+		if (fep && fep->ops) {
 			(*fep->ops->free_bd)(ndev);
 			(*fep->ops->cleanup_data)(ndev);
 		}