diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/ibm/ibmvnic.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/ibm/ibmvnic.c
index 1dc4aef37d3a4faf3592ab0dede92b802a831824..4b3df17c7a457da545cf8b0e1d5c13f70e41a855 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/ibm/ibmvnic.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/ibm/ibmvnic.c
@@ -756,6 +756,12 @@ static int ibmvnic_login(struct net_device *netdev)
 		}
 	} while (adapter->renegotiate);
 
+	/* handle pending MAC address changes after successful login */
+	if (adapter->mac_change_pending) {
+		__ibmvnic_set_mac(netdev, &adapter->desired.mac);
+		adapter->mac_change_pending = false;
+	}
+
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -993,11 +999,6 @@ static int ibmvnic_open(struct net_device *netdev)
 
 	mutex_lock(&adapter->reset_lock);
 
-	if (adapter->mac_change_pending) {
-		__ibmvnic_set_mac(netdev, &adapter->desired.mac);
-		adapter->mac_change_pending = false;
-	}
-
 	if (adapter->state != VNIC_CLOSED) {
 		rc = ibmvnic_login(netdev);
 		if (rc) {
@@ -1527,7 +1528,7 @@ static int ibmvnic_set_mac(struct net_device *netdev, void *p)
 	struct ibmvnic_adapter *adapter = netdev_priv(netdev);
 	struct sockaddr *addr = p;
 
-	if (adapter->state != VNIC_OPEN) {
+	if (adapter->state == VNIC_PROBED) {
 		memcpy(&adapter->desired.mac, addr, sizeof(struct sockaddr));
 		adapter->mac_change_pending = true;
 		return 0;