diff --git a/drivers/net/r8169.c b/drivers/net/r8169.c
index 93228c518ae7..805562b8624e 100644
--- a/drivers/net/r8169.c
+++ b/drivers/net/r8169.c
@@ -1904,10 +1904,15 @@ rtl8169_hw_start(struct net_device *dev)
 	 */
 	RTL_W16(IntrMitigate, 0x0000);
 
-	RTL_W32(TxDescStartAddrLow, ((u64) tp->TxPhyAddr & DMA_32BIT_MASK));
+	/*
+	 * Magic spell: some iop3xx ARM board needs the TxDescAddrHigh
+	 * register to be written before TxDescAddrLow to work.
+	 * Switching from MMIO to I/O access fixes the issue as well.
+	 */
 	RTL_W32(TxDescStartAddrHigh, ((u64) tp->TxPhyAddr >> 32));
-	RTL_W32(RxDescAddrLow, ((u64) tp->RxPhyAddr & DMA_32BIT_MASK));
+	RTL_W32(TxDescStartAddrLow, ((u64) tp->TxPhyAddr & DMA_32BIT_MASK));
 	RTL_W32(RxDescAddrHigh, ((u64) tp->RxPhyAddr >> 32));
+	RTL_W32(RxDescAddrLow, ((u64) tp->RxPhyAddr & DMA_32BIT_MASK));
 	RTL_W8(ChipCmd, CmdTxEnb | CmdRxEnb);
 	RTL_W8(Cfg9346, Cfg9346_Lock);