diff --git a/drivers/net/gianfar.c b/drivers/net/gianfar.c
index 999d69168277..4320a983a588 100644
--- a/drivers/net/gianfar.c
+++ b/drivers/net/gianfar.c
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ const char gfar_driver_version[] = "1.3";
 
 static int gfar_enet_open(struct net_device *dev);
 static int gfar_start_xmit(struct sk_buff *skb, struct net_device *dev);
+static void gfar_reset_task(struct work_struct *work);
 static void gfar_timeout(struct net_device *dev);
 static int gfar_close(struct net_device *dev);
 struct sk_buff *gfar_new_skb(struct net_device *dev);
@@ -209,6 +210,7 @@ static int gfar_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	spin_lock_init(&priv->txlock);
 	spin_lock_init(&priv->rxlock);
 	spin_lock_init(&priv->bflock);
+	INIT_WORK(&priv->reset_task, gfar_reset_task);
 
 	platform_set_drvdata(pdev, dev);
 
@@ -1212,6 +1214,7 @@ static int gfar_close(struct net_device *dev)
 
 	napi_disable(&priv->napi);
 
+	cancel_work_sync(&priv->reset_task);
 	stop_gfar(dev);
 
 	/* Disconnect from the PHY */
@@ -1326,13 +1329,16 @@ static int gfar_change_mtu(struct net_device *dev, int new_mtu)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-/* gfar_timeout gets called when a packet has not been
+/* gfar_reset_task gets scheduled when a packet has not been
  * transmitted after a set amount of time.
  * For now, assume that clearing out all the structures, and
- * starting over will fix the problem. */
-static void gfar_timeout(struct net_device *dev)
+ * starting over will fix the problem.
+ */
+static void gfar_reset_task(struct work_struct *work)
 {
-	dev->stats.tx_errors++;
+	struct gfar_private *priv = container_of(work, struct gfar_private,
+			reset_task);
+	struct net_device *dev = priv->dev;
 
 	if (dev->flags & IFF_UP) {
 		stop_gfar(dev);
@@ -1342,6 +1348,14 @@ static void gfar_timeout(struct net_device *dev)
 	netif_tx_schedule_all(dev);
 }
 
+static void gfar_timeout(struct net_device *dev)
+{
+	struct gfar_private *priv = netdev_priv(dev);
+
+	dev->stats.tx_errors++;
+	schedule_work(&priv->reset_task);
+}
+
 /* Interrupt Handler for Transmit complete */
 static int gfar_clean_tx_ring(struct net_device *dev)
 {
diff --git a/drivers/net/gianfar.h b/drivers/net/gianfar.h
index d59df98bd636..f46e9b63af13 100644
--- a/drivers/net/gianfar.h
+++ b/drivers/net/gianfar.h
@@ -756,6 +756,7 @@ struct gfar_private {
 
 	uint32_t msg_enable;
 
+	struct work_struct reset_task;
 	/* Network Statistics */
 	struct gfar_extra_stats extra_stats;
 };