diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/8390/axnet_cs.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/8390/axnet_cs.c
index 7769c05543f17fcc8432cac6145ebdd70c4fc5da..ec6eac1f8c95ab79d33209e272a31f71484b0f62 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/8390/axnet_cs.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/8390/axnet_cs.c
@@ -484,11 +484,8 @@ static int axnet_open(struct net_device *dev)
     link->open++;
 
     info->link_status = 0x00;
-    init_timer(&info->watchdog);
-    info->watchdog.function = ei_watchdog;
-    info->watchdog.data = (u_long)dev;
-    info->watchdog.expires = jiffies + HZ;
-    add_timer(&info->watchdog);
+    setup_timer(&info->watchdog, ei_watchdog, (u_long)dev);
+    mod_timer(&info->watchdog, jiffies + HZ);
 
     return ax_open(dev);
 } /* axnet_open */