diff --git a/target/linux/brcm-2.4/base-files/default/etc/preinit b/target/linux/brcm-2.4/base-files/default/etc/preinit
index 4513d6382d..7a61c9412e 100755
--- a/target/linux/brcm-2.4/base-files/default/etc/preinit
+++ b/target/linux/brcm-2.4/base-files/default/etc/preinit
@@ -66,11 +66,11 @@ case "$(cat /proc/diag/model)" in
 	"ASUS (unknown, BCM4702)") ifname=eth1;;
 esac
 
+ifconfig $ifname 192.168.1.1 netmask 255.255.255.0 broadcast 192.168.1.255 up
+
 insmod switch-core
 insmod switch-robo || insmod switch-adm || rmmod switch-core
 
-ifconfig $ifname 192.168.1.1 netmask 255.255.255.0 broadcast 192.168.1.255 up
-
 [ -d /proc/switch/eth0 ] && {
 	echo 1 > /proc/switch/eth0/reset