> +static void dm9000_start_thread(struct net_device *dev)
quoted text
> +{
> +	board_info_t *db = (board_info_t *) dev->priv;
> +
> +	/* Create a thread to keep track of the state of the phy
> +	 * as we do not get an interrupt when the PHY state changes.
> +	 *
> +	 * Note, we do not abort the open if we fail to create the
> +	 * thread, as this is mainly to ensure the user is kept up to
> +	 * date with the device's state. PHY accesses will still work
> +	 * via the MII read and write methods.
> +	 */
> +
> +	db->thread = kthread_create(dm9000_mii_thread, db, dev->name);
> +	if (IS_ERR(db->thread)) {
> +		dev_err(db->dev, "failed to create MII thread\n");
> +		db->thread = NULL;
> +	} else
> +		wake_up_process(db->thread);
> +}
> +
>  /*
>   *  Open the interface.
>   *  The interface is opened whenever "ifconfig" actives it.
> @@ -704,12 +724,7 @@ dm9000_open(struct net_device *dev)
>  	/* Init driver variable */
>  	db->dbug_cnt = 0;
>  
> -	/* set and active a timer process */
> -	init_timer(&db->timer);
> -	db->timer.expires  = DM9000_TIMER_WUT;
> -	db->timer.data     = (unsigned long) dev;
> -	db->timer.function = &dm9000_timer;
> -	add_timer(&db->timer);
> +	dm9000_start_thread(dev);

Please don't just ignore the error.  Just inline the content of
dm9000_start_thread into the caller and use proper goto-based
unwinding.

-
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