diff --git a/sys/dev/sis/if_sis.c b/sys/dev/sis/if_sis.c
index 520642f13ba2..71593e6b9b00 100644
--- a/sys/dev/sis/if_sis.c
+++ b/sys/dev/sis/if_sis.c
@@ -758,7 +758,8 @@ sis_rxfilter_ns(struct sis_softc *sc)
 		if_maddr_runlock(ifp);
 	}
 
-	CSR_WRITE_4(sc, SIS_RXFILT_CTL, filter);
+	/* Turn the receive filter on */
+	CSR_WRITE_4(sc, SIS_RXFILT_CTL, filter | SIS_RXFILTCTL_ENABLE);
 	CSR_READ_4(sc, SIS_RXFILT_CTL);
 }
 
@@ -820,7 +821,8 @@ sis_rxfilter_sis(struct sis_softc *sc)
 		CSR_WRITE_4(sc, SIS_RXFILT_DATA, hashes[i]);
 	}
 
-	CSR_WRITE_4(sc, SIS_RXFILT_CTL, filter);
+	/* Turn the receive filter on */
+	CSR_WRITE_4(sc, SIS_RXFILT_CTL, filter | SIS_RXFILTCTL_ENABLE);
 	CSR_READ_4(sc, SIS_RXFILT_CTL);
 }
 
@@ -2015,8 +2017,6 @@ sis_initl(struct sis_softc *sc)
 	}
 
 	sis_rxfilter(sc);
-	/* Turn the receive filter on */
-	SIS_SETBIT(sc, SIS_RXFILT_CTL, SIS_RXFILTCTL_ENABLE);
 
 	/*
 	 * Load the address of the RX and TX lists.
@@ -2138,7 +2138,8 @@ sis_ioctl(struct ifnet *ifp, u_long command, caddr_t data)
 	case SIOCADDMULTI:
 	case SIOCDELMULTI:
 		SIS_LOCK(sc);
-		sis_rxfilter(sc);
+		if ((ifp->if_drv_flags & IFF_DRV_RUNNING) != 0)
+			sis_rxfilter(sc);
 		SIS_UNLOCK(sc);
 		break;
 	case SIOCGIFMEDIA: