diff --git a/reactos/drivers/network/dd/pcnet/pcnet.c b/reactos/drivers/network/dd/pcnet/pcnet.c
index a1077d9f85e..9637036fcaf 100644
--- a/reactos/drivers/network/dd/pcnet/pcnet.c
+++ b/reactos/drivers/network/dd/pcnet/pcnet.c
@@ -988,6 +988,9 @@ MiniportInitialize(
                            Adapter);
       NdisMSetPeriodicTimer(&Adapter->MediaDetectionTimer,
                             MEDIA_DETECTION_INTERVAL);
+      NdisMRegisterAdapterShutdownHandler(Adapter->MiniportAdapterHandle,
+                                          Adapter,
+                                          MiniportShutdown);
     }
 
 #if DBG
@@ -995,8 +998,6 @@ MiniportInitialize(
     ASSERT(0);
 #endif
 
-  NdisMRegisterAdapterShutdownHandler(Adapter->MiniportAdapterHandle, Adapter, MiniportShutdown);
-
   DPRINT("returning 0x%x\n", Status);
   *OpenErrorStatus = Status;
   return Status;