--- 8139too.c.dist	Thu Oct 31 23:45:04 2002
+++ 8139too.c	Thu Oct 31 23:45:46 2002
@@ -2449,8 +2449,8 @@
 	int rc = 0;
 	int phy = tp->phys[0] & 0x3f;
 
-	if (!netif_running(dev))
-		return -EINVAL;
+//	if (!netif_running(dev))
+//		return -EINVAL;
 
 	if (cmd != SIOCETHTOOL) {
 		/* With SIOCETHTOOL, this would corrupt the pointer.  */
