diff --git a/sys/dev/em/if_em.c b/sys/dev/em/if_em.c
index c189eb2fd51..bb12250281b 100644
--- a/sys/dev/em/if_em.c
+++ b/sys/dev/em/if_em.c
@@ -955,13 +955,6 @@ em_init_locked(struct em_softc *sc)
 	/* Get the latest mac address, User can use a LAA */
 	bcopy(IF_LLADDR(sc->ifp), sc->hw.mac_addr, ETHER_ADDR_LEN);
 
-	/* Initialize the hardware */
-	if (em_hardware_init(sc)) {
-		device_printf(dev, "Unable to initialize the hardware\n");
-		return;
-	}
-	em_update_link_status(sc);
-
 	if (ifp->if_capenable & IFCAP_VLAN_HWTAGGING)
 		em_enable_vlans(sc);