hw_priv->link = link;
 
        /*
-        * Make sure the IRQ handler cannot proceed until at least
-        * dev->base_addr is initialized.
+        * We enable IRQ here, but IRQ handler will not proceed
+        * until dev->base_addr is set below. This protect us from
+        * receive interrupts when driver is not initialized.
         */
-       spin_lock_irqsave(&local->irq_init_lock, flags);
-
        ret = pcmcia_request_irq(link, prism2_interrupt);
        if (ret)
-               goto failed_unlock;
+               goto failed;
 
        ret = pcmcia_enable_device(link);
        if (ret)
-               goto failed_unlock;
+               goto failed;
 
+       spin_lock_irqsave(&local->irq_init_lock, flags);
        dev->irq = link->irq;
        dev->base_addr = link->resource[0]->start;
-
        spin_unlock_irqrestore(&local->irq_init_lock, flags);
 
        local->shutdown = 0;
 
        return ret;
 
- failed_unlock:
-       spin_unlock_irqrestore(&local->irq_init_lock, flags);
  failed:
        kfree(hw_priv);
        prism2_release((u_long)link);