diff --git a/arch/um/drivers/net_kern.c b/arch/um/drivers/net_kern.c
index 2ab233b..47d0c37 100644
--- a/arch/um/drivers/net_kern.c
+++ b/arch/um/drivers/net_kern.c
@@ -255,18 +255,6 @@
 	netif_wake_queue(dev);
 }
 
-static int uml_net_set_mac(struct net_device *dev, void *addr)
-{
-	struct uml_net_private *lp = netdev_priv(dev);
-	struct sockaddr *hwaddr = addr;
-
-	spin_lock_irq(&lp->lock);
-	eth_mac_addr(dev, hwaddr->sa_data);
-	spin_unlock_irq(&lp->lock);
-
-	return 0;
-}
-
 static int uml_net_change_mtu(struct net_device *dev, int new_mtu)
 {
 	dev->mtu = new_mtu;
@@ -373,7 +361,7 @@
 	.ndo_start_xmit 	= uml_net_start_xmit,
 	.ndo_set_multicast_list = uml_net_set_multicast_list,
 	.ndo_tx_timeout 	= uml_net_tx_timeout,
-	.ndo_set_mac_address	= uml_net_set_mac,
+	.ndo_set_mac_address	= eth_mac_addr,
 	.ndo_change_mtu 	= uml_net_change_mtu,
 	.ndo_validate_addr	= eth_validate_addr,
 };
@@ -472,7 +460,8 @@
 	    ((*transport->user->init)(&lp->user, dev) != 0))
 		goto out_unregister;
 
-	eth_mac_addr(dev, device->mac);
+	/* don't use eth_mac_addr, it will not work here */
+	memcpy(dev->dev_addr, device->mac, ETH_ALEN);
 	dev->mtu = transport->user->mtu;
 	dev->netdev_ops = &uml_netdev_ops;
 	dev->ethtool_ops = &uml_net_ethtool_ops;