diff --git a/sys/dev/ep/if_ep.c b/sys/dev/ep/if_ep.c
index 3fa7dc9f6362..ee1e946f500d 100644
--- a/sys/dev/ep/if_ep.c
+++ b/sys/dev/ep/if_ep.c
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ eeprom_rdy(struct ep_softc *sc)
  * before
  */
 int
-get_e(struct ep_softc *sc, uint16_t offset, uint16_t *result)
+ep_get_e(struct ep_softc *sc, uint16_t offset, uint16_t *result)
 {
 
 	if (eeprom_rdy(sc))
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ ep_get_macaddr(struct ep_softc *sc, u_char *addr)
 
 	GO_WINDOW(sc, 0);
 	for (i = EEPROM_NODE_ADDR_0; i <= EEPROM_NODE_ADDR_2; i++) {
-		error = get_e(sc, i, &result);
+		error = ep_get_e(sc, i, &result);
 		if (error)
 			return (error);
 		macaddr[i] = htons(result);
@@ -203,12 +203,12 @@ ep_alloc(device_t dev)
 	GO_WINDOW(sc, 0);
 	sc->epb.cmd_off = 0;
 
-	error = get_e(sc, EEPROM_PROD_ID, &result);
+	error = ep_get_e(sc, EEPROM_PROD_ID, &result);
 	if (error)
 		goto bad;
 	sc->epb.prod_id = result;
 
-	error = get_e(sc, EEPROM_RESOURCE_CFG, &result);
+	error = ep_get_e(sc, EEPROM_RESOURCE_CFG, &result);
 	if (error)
 		goto bad;
 	sc->epb.res_cfg = result;
diff --git a/sys/dev/ep/if_ep_isa.c b/sys/dev/ep/if_ep_isa.c
index 407b689d03e5..03e051ac3a35 100644
--- a/sys/dev/ep/if_ep_isa.c
+++ b/sys/dev/ep/if_ep_isa.c
@@ -361,13 +361,13 @@ ep_eeprom_cksum(struct ep_softc *sc)
 	uint8_t cksum_high = 0;
 	uint8_t cksum_low = 0;
 
-	error = get_e(sc, 0x0f, &val);
+	error = ep_get_e(sc, 0x0f, &val);
 	if (error)
 		return (ENXIO);
 	cksum = val;
 
 	for (i = 0; i < 0x0f; i++) {
-		error = get_e(sc, i, &val);
+		error = ep_get_e(sc, i, &val);
 		if (error)
 			return (ENXIO);
 		switch (i) {
diff --git a/sys/dev/ep/if_ep_pccard.c b/sys/dev/ep/if_ep_pccard.c
index f86fe6102b55..3e5e6a7dd4c4 100644
--- a/sys/dev/ep/if_ep_pccard.c
+++ b/sys/dev/ep/if_ep_pccard.c
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ ep_pccard_probe(device_t dev)
 	struct ep_board *epb = &sc->epb;
 	const char *desc;
 	uint16_t result;
+	uint8_t enaddr[6];
 	int error;
 
 	error = ep_alloc(dev);
@@ -96,7 +97,7 @@ ep_pccard_probe(device_t dev)
 	epb->cmd_off = 0;
 
 	/* XXX check return */
-	error = get_e(sc, EEPROM_PROD_ID, &result);
+	error = ep_get_e(sc, EEPROM_PROD_ID, &result);
 	epb->prod_id = result;
 
 	if ((desc = ep_pccard_identify(epb->prod_id)) == NULL) {
@@ -105,7 +106,7 @@ ep_pccard_probe(device_t dev)
 			    "failed (nonfatal) id 0x%x\n", epb->prod_id);
 		epb->cmd_off = 2;
 		/* XXX check return */
-		error = get_e(sc, EEPROM_PROD_ID, &result);
+		error = ep_get_e(sc, EEPROM_PROD_ID, &result);
 		epb->prod_id = result;
 		if ((desc = ep_pccard_identify(epb->prod_id)) == NULL) {
 			device_printf(dev, "Unit failed to come ready or "
@@ -114,14 +115,16 @@ ep_pccard_probe(device_t dev)
 			return (ENXIO);
 		}
 	}
-	device_set_desc(dev, desc);
-
 	/*
-	 * Newer cards supported by this device need to have their
-	 * MAC address set.
+	 * For reasons unknown, getting the MAC address here makes the
+	 * 3C574 and 3C556 families get the right MAC address later.
+	 * otherwise, the ID field is used for each of the words of the
+	 * MAC address instead of the proper one.  It is unclear why
+	 * ep_get_macaddr would have this side effect, or even what
+	 * that side effect really is.
 	 */
-	error = ep_get_macaddr(sc, (u_char *)&IFP2ENADDR(sc->ifp));
-
+	ep_get_macaddr(sc, enaddr);
+	device_set_desc(dev, desc);
 	ep_free(dev);
 	return (0);
 }
@@ -189,14 +192,14 @@ ep_pccard_attach(device_t dev)
 	sc->epb.cmd_off = 0;
 
 	/* XXX check return */
-	error = get_e(sc, EEPROM_PROD_ID, &result);
+	error = ep_get_e(sc, EEPROM_PROD_ID, &result);
 	sc->epb.prod_id = result;
 
 	if (!ep_pccard_card_attach(&sc->epb)) {
 		sc->epb.cmd_off = 2;
-		error = get_e(sc, EEPROM_PROD_ID, &result);
+		error = ep_get_e(sc, EEPROM_PROD_ID, &result);
 		sc->epb.prod_id = result;
-		error = get_e(sc, EEPROM_RESOURCE_CFG, &result);
+		error = ep_get_e(sc, EEPROM_RESOURCE_CFG, &result);
 		sc->epb.res_cfg = result;
 		if (!ep_pccard_card_attach(&sc->epb)) {
 			device_printf(dev,
@@ -205,7 +208,7 @@ ep_pccard_attach(device_t dev)
 			goto bad;
 		}
 	}
-	error = get_e(sc, EEPROM_ADDR_CFG, &result);
+	error = ep_get_e(sc, EEPROM_ADDR_CFG, &result);
 
 	/* ROM size = 0, ROM base = 0 */
 	/* For now, ignore AUTO SELECT feature of 3C589B and later. */
diff --git a/sys/dev/ep/if_epvar.h b/sys/dev/ep/if_epvar.h
index 231d4ed5c683..31ff786e632a 100644
--- a/sys/dev/ep/if_epvar.h
+++ b/sys/dev/ep/if_epvar.h
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ int ep_detach(device_t);
 void ep_get_media(struct ep_softc *);
 int ep_attach(struct ep_softc *);
 void ep_intr(void *);
-int get_e(struct ep_softc *, uint16_t, uint16_t *);
+int ep_get_e(struct ep_softc *, uint16_t, uint16_t *);
 int ep_get_macaddr(struct ep_softc *, u_char *);
 
 #define CSR_READ_1(sc, off) (bus_space_read_1((sc)->bst, (sc)->bsh, off))